Eze. 3:16-27, The mission of the watchman 2

Eze. 3:16-27, The mission of the watchman 2

2. The Beginning of Ministry: Mute Behavior (22-27)
 Now Ezekiel is about to conclude the story of the prophet’s calling. He bases it on the vision he had when he received his calling (23). The same spirit that raised him up when he received his calling raises him up again (24). When God gave him his calling, he called Israel a “rebellious people,” and he uses this expression again (26).
God tells Ezekiel to go out into the field (valley) because he has something to say. Verse 22, “The hand of the Lord came upon me there, and he said to me, ‘Get up, go out into the field, and I will speak with you there. ’” When the prophet went out into the field, there was the glory of God that he had seen at the Chebar River. Verse 23, “I arose and went out into the field, and the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar River. Then I fell facedown.” Just as Ezekiel had fallen before when he saw the glory of God, he fell on his face this time (23). Just as the Spirit of God had entered his body and raised him up, so the Spirit of the Lord raised him up this time. Verse 24, “The Spirit of the Lord came upon me and raised me up and set me on my feet. God commanded the prophet who was standing before him to go home and be bound with ropes and be dumb. Verses 24b-26, “...He spoke to me and said, ‘Go, go into your house and shut the doors. 25. And you, son of man, they will put ropes on you and bind you, and you will not go out among them. 26. And I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you will be mute and will not be a rebuke to them, for they are a rebellious house.”
 What is happening to him? He had been ‘mute’ for seven years (593-586 BC). He was possessed by God’s command and spirit and did this.
In order to prophesy his first act, he had to stay at home (3:24). Why did God say this? Wasn’t it urgent to go out and preach God’s word right now? Wasn’t he called to do that? Ezekiel was prevented from performing his public prophetic duties for a certain period of time. He was also bound with ropes (3:25). This symbolizes that he is a captive of God. At the same time, it hints that the Israelites will be taken captive in the future. He also becomes mute (26). Not only his body, but even his tongue became a captive of God.
However, he did not completely lose his speech while he was mute. The reason God made him mute was to prevent them from repenting and returning to God by having him mediate the word (26). God had already decided to judge them. He mostly did God’s work silently, but when God gave him a word, he had to deliver it. Verse 27, “But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ Those who will listen will listen, and those who will not listen, they will not listen, for they are a rebellious house.” In any case, those who will not listen will do whatever it takes to avoid listening. No wonder God says that they are a rebellious people (intentionally opposing and rebelling)! They are stubborn people who cannot understand God’s word at all. In other words, they are beyond salvation and cannot be persuaded by anything. They are stubborn and stubborn, and the result does not change whether you keep your mouth shut or open your mouth to proclaim it. That is why it is so frustrating that even God cannot help but watch.
 Let’s not harden our hearts like Pharaoh in Egypt and disobey God’s word. Let’s soften our hearts, open our hearts wide, and accept the Lord’s word with an Amen. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Amen.” (Rev. 2-3, Seven Churches) Those who hear will hear. It describes those who repent and are saved after hearing the word of God, and those who stubbornly commit evil and end up in death. It makes a more intense contrast between the blessings of salvation that those who repent and return will receive and the eternal death and curses that those who stubbornly commit evil will receive. Jesus did so. Mt.11:15, 13:9, “He who has an ear, let him hear.”
At the end of the Bible, Jesus also said. Rev.22:11, “He who does unrighteousness, let him still be unrighteous; he who is filthy, let him still be filthy; he who is righteous, let him still be righteous; he who is holy, let him still be holy.”
This muteness continues for seven and a half years (593-586 BC) (see 33:21-22). It emphasizes that when one does not convey the word of God, one should not say anything at all. However, God has the prophet tied up and locked in a room, unable to speak, in order to make him more effective in carrying out his mission. He is now attempting to provide an object lesson by showing the people a shocking sight. This is a type of shock treatment that is referred to in today’s psychology. In other words, Ezekiel’s body and tongue are under the strict control of God’s sovereignty. He will continue to endure humiliation and contempt in order to do what God commands. He lives a mute life through his actions and prophecies, showing the prophet’s life of self-denial.
God sends Ezekiel to the people of God as a prophet, but does not expect much fruit. As He has said many times, “They are a rebellious people.” They are “those who will listen will listen, and those who will not listen will not listen (27).” His most important role is to testify that there was a prophet among them in the future (2:5). If there are people who complain that God did not give sufficient warning, Ezekiel will be a witness and testify that Jehovah gave sufficient warning before He judged them.
 The reason why it is so hard for us to do God’s work is because, like Ezekiel, we have to deliver messages that people don’t like. People are excited about messages they want to hear. Everyone likes to have a teacher who supports them (2 Tim. 4:2-4, 2. Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3. For the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own passions, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, having itching ears. 4. And they will turn away from listening to the truth and turn aside to myths). However, God’s servants are not called to deliver just the messages people want to hear. They are called to deliver the messages God wants them to hear.
(Application question) 2. It is truly regrettable to see those who stubbornly refuse to listen to the gospel and choose the path of love, even though they have the opportunity to hear it and gain life. Are my family and neighbors among them? Am I devoting my whole heart to spreading the gospel for them? (27, Mark 16:15, Acts 20:24)

Now, I would like to summarize the lessons of the story of calling in chapters 1-3.
1. Ezekiel experienced God very closely, and this experience had a permanent impact on his lifelong ministry. God was with Ezekiel for about 22 years from the moment He called him to be a prophet until the end. When God gives someone a ministry, He is with him until the end and helps him to complete it. Mt.28:20, “Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you; and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
2. The way God works is beyond our expectations and imagination. He told Ezekiel to be a watchman and warn Israel. Then He restricted his actions by binding him tightly. He made him mute for seven years, making him speechless. Who knows this mysterious providence of God? When he received his calling, he returned to the Jewish community and spent seven days trembling with fear(with a heart that felt like it was going to burst). There are many things to tell them, but even if you do, it will be of no use and they will not listen at all. So I think God made him go into the house, lock the door, and tie his body so that he could not move. It seems to be because of the indescribable sadness and despair.
3. A person who delivers a message can never deliver his own feelings or words. He must only deliver the message of God who sent him. Ezekiel never went into his ministry with a joyful heart. However, he hid his heart, discarded his own words, and only delivered the word of God and his feelings. He only delivered the word of God with the sole purpose of delivering the word of God. All the words he delivers are the word of God. 2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:21. Dear saints, I pray that we all become closer to God like Ezekiel, spread the gospel to our neighbors, obey only the word of God, and become blessed watchmen for our families, churches, CV, and America. Amen.