#1126 Ezekiel 2 Son of Man

 

And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.

8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. Ezekiel 2 ESV

Ezekiel 2 Ezekiel's Call

“The phrase son of man is a Hebraism which emphasizes Ezekiel’s insignificance or mere humanity. ‘Son of’ indicates ‘partaking of the nature of’ and so when combined with adam, ‘man’, it means nothing more than ‘human being’.” (Taylor)

ii. Son of Man was also a phrase Jesus used to refer to Himself, recorded some 80 times in the Gospels. Yet Jesus’ use of the phrase is more connected with the idea from Daniel 7:13, where Son of Man describes the divine Messiah. - E Word

Son of Man - Ezekiel is being addressed as a son of Adam, and on behalf of mankind, everyone who hears the message he is going to receive. He is in a sense a representative, selected from all by God to be an ambassador to His people. God the Father will later prepare a body for God the Son to mediate a new covenant with man, and Christ will refer to Himself in these same terms, Son of Man. There are heresies that deny the deity of Christ, but also those that deny his human nature as well. The prophets all foreshadow Christ, and their ministries are a great representation because the world will hate Christ just as it hates them. 

…2The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. 3All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. 4Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.… Psalm 14: 2-4

Stand on your feet - Remember we left Ezekiel prostrate in the last chapter.

The Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet - When God calls a man he also enables him. Think about this carefully, remember Isaiah's encounter with God in Isaiah 6, when he encounters God's holiness? He doesn't say, "Oh cool, check this out," no, he says, "woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips", in other words, You are different than me, and in a scary way, You are holy and I am not. God has an angel stick a burning coal on Isaiah's lips to purify them, to set them apart for His service. Ezekiel might as well be a dead man, like Lazarus, unable to stand before this vision of God's glory, but the Spirit makes him alive to this task. The Spirit of God overcomes this paralysis, as Christ overcomes this chasm, this void between God and man. Here is Jacob's ladder. It's too much by himself, he can't survive this vision on his own. If you enjoy the books and movies people write and make about their experiences walking with God in heaven, I feel sorry for you, you are easily misled. These false teachers that boast about rooms with Rolls Royce, spare body parts, money that Jesus walks around and points out to them, just waiting to be claimed in heaven, they have never seen God nor a vision of God; they don't know the God of the Bible.

…4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke. 5Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.… Isaiah 6: 4-6

Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel - He is going to be God's messenger to His rebellious people, and for this he will also need the Spirit of the Lord. This is the call of a preacher, but most prefer to preach to the choir, to hear the amen, no one wants to go to the rebels with the message they don't want to hear. It's not a call to be lifted up on everyone's shoulders, but rather cursed as everyone who hangs on a tree.

“The people are further described as impudent and stubborn (4, RSV; lit. ‘hard of face and firm of heart’). The first phrase suggests the shameless attitude of the man who will not lower his gaze but prefers to brazen it out; the second describes the stubborn, unyielding will that refuses point-blank to give way even when found guilty.” (Taylor)

You shall say to them - He doesn't need Ezekiel, but here is the opportunity, the honor, and the message will be from God, just repeat what He says. God doesn't need our style, our looks, clothes, title, those are the things He has allowed for us to have, but He does not need us. He doesn't need my humor, for me to be liked, those are things I would like to be remembered for, but it is the Holy Spirit that regenerates men, convicts the heart, God, Who gives the gift of faith that comes by hearing, so you, dear Ezekiel, just give them God's word. If they don't repent so be it. You are not authorized to change the message.

…16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”… Romans 10: 16-18

1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?… Galatians 3: 1-3

They will know that a prophet has been among them - Imagine the face on the Pharisees after the temple was torn down, just like Jesus said, though He spoke of His own body as well, yet not one stone was left upon another. 

“This vindication will obviously not come through masses of repentant converts, and probably not through the commendation of other prophets. All that remains is the traditional sign of a true prophet—the fulfillment of his predictions.” (Block)

ii. “By this they shall be assured of two things: 1. That God in his mercy had given them due warning. 2. That themselves were inexcusable, for not taking it.” (Clarke)

Though briars and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions - This is the yield of his work, not a beautiful, fruitful garden, but men and women that prick, that do not give way, but make the path painful. This is the reward for speaking on behalf of Yahweh. You will not be well received, and they will search for things to hurt you back, words that sting like a scorpion, insult and injury. This is your call.

Open your mouth and eat what I give you - This is similar to Jeremiah's call, and regardless of what these people do, Ezekiel is being set apart to give God's word. He is bringing them the lament, the message of sorrow and woe, for they should mourn over their sin that got them here, yes, God has brought you to this place, but it is for your sins. This also reminds me of a verse from Jeremiah that my wife split and had each half inscribed on my daughters' study Bibles. Your words were found and I ate them.

…15You understand, O LORD; remember me and attend to me. Avenge me against my persecutors. In Your patience, do not take me away. Know that I endure reproach for Your honor. 16Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts. 17I never sat with the band of revelers, nor did I celebrate with them. Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone, for You have filled me with indignation.… Jeremiah 15: 15-17