EZEKIEL 3

EZEKIEL COMMISSIONED AS ISRAEL’S WATCHMAN

Continuing Ezekiel’s vision, God tells Ezekiel to eat the scroll he has been handed. Ezekiel describes the scroll as filling to his stomach and sweet like honey. Because this is described as a vision, it is unknown whether this is a literal depiction or a symbolic representation of Ezekiel consuming God’s message.

God commissions Ezekiel to speak to the Israelites, but warns that Israel is hardheaded and stubborn. Because the people of Israel have not listened to God, it is not likely that they will listen to Ezekiel. This serves as a reminder that Ezekiel's obedience is not determined by the outcome, but instead by his willingness to trust and follow God.

God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman over Israel, making him responsible for warning and correcting the Israelites. Those who know better and choose to do wrong will die, but those who correct their actions in response to Ezekiel’s warning will live. God instructs Ezekiel to not go out and speak to the people until the time is right.