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a frustrating life

Ezekiel 3:22-27 (JDV)

Ezekiel 3:22 The hand of Yahveh was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up, go out to the plain, and I will speak with you there.”
Ezekiel 3:23 So I got up and went out to the plain. I noticed Yahveh’s impressive appearance was present there, like the impressive appearance I had seen by the Chebar Canal, and I fell face-down.
Ezekiel 3:24 The Breath entered me and set me on my feet. He spoke with me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house.
Ezekiel 3:25 As for you, son of Adam, they will put ropes on you and tie you up with them so you cannot go out among them.
Ezekiel 3:26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, and you will be mute and unable to mediate for them because they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 3:27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you will say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahveh says.’ Let the one who listens, listen, and let the one who refuses, refuse – because they are a rebellious house.

a frustrating life

The LORD was teaching Ezekiel that his life was going to be a mixture of good and bad experiences. First, he sends him out to the plain, and Ezekiel has another experience of God’s impressive appearance.

From there, the same Sacred Breath moves him to go back to his house and shut himself up inside it. He was symbolically imprisoning himself. The LORD wanted him to know that his own people would tie him up so that he could not go out among them. Even the LORD would keep him from mediating for these people.

The consequence of these two truths meant that Ezekiel would have a frustrating life. He would learn much about God but there would be few in his generation who would care to learn from him.

The consequence for us is this remarkable revelation that we can now read, and see in our minds the magnificent glory of Ezekiel’s God — who is our God.

LORD, thank you for using Ezekiel’s frustrating life to reveal your glory to us.