Speak to God and the People
“Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you” - Ezekiel 2:1 (NKJV)
Ezekiel is sharing his personal story of God coming to him in a vision, and calling him as a prophet/priest. Ezekiel sees the “glory of Yahweh” coming down from heaven. It is so overwhelming that he falls on his face. But the Lord did not let him remain there as He said, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.”
The message, which Ezekiel had preached, is given to him in a kind of scroll. So, Ezekiel had received his calling, but it is not a promising situation. It is a hard call and God made it clear. In exercising his prophetic office, Ezekiel would have to preach to deaf ears and dwell among scorpions. There is no prospect of success laid on the prophet in the initial call to ministry. And that burden of no prospect continues to increase as God continues to speak.
Even so, the call Ezekiel received carries the power of support. Ezekiel’s message is to proclaim the words of which he was given to eat. That message is written in a scroll or book, which exists already in heaven, and it tastes as sweet as honey. From now on, the prophet is entirely on God’s side and the person and the message are the same. God’s command to the prophet to speak to the people of Israel, For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God. “As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them” (Ezekiel 2:4-5)
The highlighted and marvelous word is– “Whether they hear or refuse to hear, they shall know that there has been a prophet among them."
The Old Testament scholar Gerhard Van Rad says that more than any other prophet, Ezekiel is influenced by the priestly religious life of Israel, and indeed his prophetic ministry is a priestly one. His calling was not just the traditional prophetic task of addressing the community and the nation – speaking the Word of God to them – but also caring for individuals, assisting persons in realizing their own situation in the eyes of God.
Ezekiel's role was as a prophet/priest that is reflected in our text. What is the role of a prophet/priest: People will know that God’s representative has been among them. Secondly, a foundational understanding of the function of a prophet/priest. She or he speaks to the people for God and to God for the people. Let’s explore those foundational functions. Today, I would like to explain three foundation functions of a prophet.
I. Speak to God for God:
Go back to Ezekiel 2:1-3, there are some lessons, directions, and promises for us.
First, God says, “Stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” (2:1). The lesson? We are to listen. Our stance must always be a receptive one. “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” In 1 Samuel 3:10, The Lord came and called at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
Now note this second thing. After hearing God tell him to “stand on his feet” so that he might speak to him Ezekiel says, “ Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me.” -Ezekiel 2:2.
The lesson? It is not our ability to do what God calls us to do, but our willingness to respond, to yield, to attempt what He calls us, that releases God’s power. God called Ezekiel, “stand on your feet,” but then as he says “A spirit entered into me and set me on my feet.”
We may express this second lesson in this fashion: God does not call us to a ministry or a mission that we can accomplish in our own strength and with our own resources – but only with His divine aid or help. In that way, we are kept on our knees, dependent on Him.
Then there is a third lesson and promise. See it there in chapter 3:1-3. Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.” So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. (Ezekiel 3:1-3)
The lesson? We must become one with God’s Word. When we speak to God for God, He will feed your belly, fill your stomach with joy, and the Word will come to your mouth like honey in sweetness. The Apostle John saw a vision that an angel was standing on the earth and he had a little book. In Revelation 10:10, we read. Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. Psalmist says, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” - Psalm 119:103. These are the lessons, directions, and promise the Lord our God has given us. Speak to God for God they will know that a prophet is among them.
II. Speak to the People for God:
God speaks to the people through the prophet/priest. For they are impudent and stubborn children, I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, thus says the Lord. - Ezekiel 2:4
To speak to the people for God and to God for the people, word and life must be in harmony. When you speak to the people for God they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. - Ezekiel 36:22-23
Ezekiel is saying that God’s honor must be restored in the sight of the nations, and this honor is connected, in fact, it is connected to God’s holiness. Ezekiel is speaking for God to the people of God. We too must speak to the people for God and call the people of God to a place of holiness if we are going to call the nations to God’s righteousness.
Look what God did. “He gathered Israel and brought her back to her own land. In doing so, He manifests His holiness in the sight of the nations.” Ezekiel 20:41
Make sure you understand, God’s honor is at stake. The covenant He had made with Israel had been profaned by all the heathen. Godless powers had carried Yahweh’s people into exile. The covenant had to be restored.
“The nations shall know that I am the Lord, when through you I display my holiness before their eyes.”- Ezekiel 36:23. The world is not paying attention to the church today and will not pay attention to the church in the future until those of us who call ourselves “God’s own people” vindicate God’s holiness “before their eyes.”
Is this concern for holiness being rekindled because the gospel has been made dependent on liberal theological revision? Is holiness in life and death an issue for culture itself because our culture has become a valueless one – almost completely corrupted?
The prophet/priest must speak to the people for God, reminding them that holiness is not an option for God’s people. It is not likely that our prophetic words to the nations will be heard unless and until there is at least a remnant of faithful people who seek to be as Paul says, “Imitators of God – holy as He is holy and living ‘in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2).
What a powerful reminder. Our prophetic/priestly function of speaking to the people for God requires identification with our people. A passion for their salvation, and a compassion that calls for a willingness to suffer. A willingness to suffer even to die for their sake.
As Yahweh made Ezekiel responsible, has He not made us responsible for the souls committed to our care? Or in the ministries to which we are called? Yahweh threatened to take their lives at the prophet’s hands. So, Yahweh says to him, “And you, son of man groan! with trembling loins and bitterness shall you groan before their eyes!” (Ezekiel 21:6)
The Scottish preacher, Robert Murray says, in one of his books: “The greatest need of my congregation is my own personal holiness.”
“Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief” - Ezekiel 21:6. God said to Ezekiel, and He said to us. Show the people that you care – that you speak for a God who loves us – Who forgives our iniquities and heals our diseases – who restores us to wholeness and gives us joy.
III. Speak to God for the People:
But not only do we speak to the people for God, we speak to God for the people. Our “groaning” becomes our prayer – our pleading with God on behalf of our people. As a believer, each and every one of us should pray to God for the people, for the congregation, for the nation, and for the family.
One of the symbolic actions God called for Ezekiel to perform was to lie for a considerable time. First on one side and then on the other, in order to bear the guilt of the house of Israel. God introduces that requirement in chapter 4: 4: “Then lie upon your left side, and I will lay the punishment of the house of Israel upon you; for the number of the days that you lie upon it, you shall bear their punishment.”
It is a powerful call, to suffering with and for our people. A commanding call to prayer. The prophet/priest together, speak to the people for God and speak to God for the people, the love and care of God. Now it does not always happen this way – but it happens just enough to cause us to know the power of it, and to give us the joy of it, and to inspire us to continue the practice.
Are you groaning before the eyes of your people? Do they see that kind of passion and compassion flowing from your life? Who are the people in your congregation, who, though they may be members, do they feel like they really belong?
Who are the people in your community who have yet to receive a clear message from you personally, that you deeply care for them and that God loves them?
“Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief” - Ezekiel 21:6. God said to Ezekiel, and He said to us. Show the people that you care – that you speak God who loves us – Who forgives our iniquities and heals our diseases – who restores us to wholeness and gives us joy.
Conclusion:
You must speak to God to learn His wisdom and teaching. We must listen to his words of truth and trust in the Word of God. We must listen to God like Ezekiel and receive His lessons and directions. Keep forward into the path of God so that He may keep His promises.
We must work to repair the Kingdom of God. The evil that is present in our world has brought out corruption and greed. It is our job as the children of God to unite the nations with holiness.
We must bear the guilt of our sins and receive punishment. Our sins have required us to seek forgiveness and prayer. Our God is an all loving God that inspires us with joy, love and care for one another, love and care for our beloved God.
To speak to the people for God and to God for the people word and life must be in harmony. When you speak to the people for God they will know that a prophet has been among them. Amen.
