Ezekiel 3:22-27, A bound dumb prophet -2

4. Why did God make Ezekiel a mute who was confined to his home while he was carrying out his mission as a watchman for Israel?1) To show that God’s word is precious and glorious.  God’s word is living and active, and like a sharp two-edged sword, it penetrates to the division of soul, joints, and marrow (Heb.4:12). It is a word that can save and kill life, and it is a word that performs amazing powers.
2) To reveal what God does.
 When a mute opens his mouth to speak, people will think, “This man’s words are not his own, but must come from God.” In this way, there is a high possibility that the words will be received as God’s words. That is why God made Ezekiel mute and gave him suffering. This was God’s special will to reveal that the words he delivered were not Ezekiel’s own message, but God’s words.
3) To ensure that the prophet’s mouth truly only delivered God’s words.
 God sanctified Ezekiel in this way to deliver God's word. In Luke 1:20-22, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, also testified to God's will through silence. Isn't there a proverb that says, "Speech is silver, but silence is gold"? A watchman must deliver only God's word with the sole purpose of delivering the word.
5. 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. 2Tim.3:16, All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness; 2 Pet. 1:21.  Our Jesus acted with His whole body to save us. His whole body was torn. *10/18/24, at the ordination ceremony, an African missionary preached the gospel. While preaching the gospel, he took off his suit and showed showed us his Y Shirts. The shirts were torn in many places. Every corner of Jesus' body showed the pain of being torn for us.
 Dear saints, I pray that we all become more intimate with God like Ezekiel, preach Jesus Christ to our neighbors, and obey only God's word to become blessed watchmen for our families, churches, Chula Vista, and the United States. Amen.