First, thank you for your kindness in not calling me out for misspelling Ezekiel last week. (What was I thinking?!)
We pick up in Ezekiel chapter 3 where we left off, as Ezekiel had partaken of the Word of God. This passage is the beginning of God’s Words of woe for Israel. Yet still it is sweet to us, for we see God’s glory and presence revealed. We learn more about His character and relationship with His people.
“He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel—not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate” (Ezekiel 3:4-7).
- Ezekiel was sent to his own people, Israel.
- They understood his language and he understood theirs.
- They did not listen to Ezekiel because they would not listen to God. (emphasis mine).
- They did not listen to God because their hearts were hard and obstinate.
- Some believers are called to minister to people of other cultures, and some are called to those in the same culture or community.
*Why might God call us to speak to people in our same culture?
*Why do people today choose to not listen to God?
“But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people” (Ezekiel 3:8-9).
- They would not listen to Ezekiel.
- God hardened Ezekiel to withstand the rejection.
- He need not fear their rebellion.
- It’s as if God shielded Ezekiel not only from their rebellion, but from their consequences.
*What do we learn about God in these two verses?
“And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen” (Ezekiel 3:10-11).
Again, God repeated His charge to Ezekiel. 
- Listen carefully to God.
- Take to heart all the words He speaks.
- Go to your people and serve the Word.
- Go to those in exile—far from God.
- Speak to them what God has spoken.
- Speak the Word, whether they listen or not.
“I [Paul] planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
*How does this charge apply to us today?
*What does it mean to “serve the Word” to people?
*How does God “grow” the Word in people’s hearts?
“Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing. It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—deeply distressed. (Ezekiel 3:12-15).
- The Spirit was with Ezekiel and guided him.
- We often describe the glory of God as something seen.
- Ezekiel heard the glory of God.
- The glory of God is the sound of the cherubim, winged creatures who guard God’s holiness.
- He praised God and His glory—His honor, Who and What God is, and His royal majesty.
- The Spirit took Ezekiel away to the people he would speak to.
- They were in exile, far away from God.
“He [Jesus] came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Ephesians 2:17-18).
Even though Ezekiel was bitter and angry, God’s hand was on him.
- He shared bitterness and anger with God at the people’s sin and hardened hearts.1
- Before Ezekiel shared God’s Word, he sat with them in silence.1
- In chapter 1, Ezekiel heard silence before God spoke.
- Here in chapter 3, Ezekiel waited in silence before he spoke to the people.
- Before we begin ministry, we would do well to sit with people.
- To listen to God and ask Him to help us hear their hearts.
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).
*How did the Spirit guide Ezekiel? What can we learn from this?
*What do you envision God’s glory sounds like?
*How can we sit with people in silence as we wait for God to speak?
1 Commentaries. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ezekiel/3-15.htm