From the parables of the vine and of two great eagles the greatest faults of the ‘typical’ church (repeated today) were pride and idolatry. Ezekiel shows that humility, simplicity and faithfulness are essential for true blessing. We see how worldliness is the equivalent of idolatry.
In this series of Bible Studies we consider some themes in this mighty and deep prophecy of Ezekiel. There are many applications arising from it for our own challenge and encouragement.
Ezekiel was, for example, directly commissioned by God. This applies to all of us. Now Bible believers, sadly, haven’t universally considered that each person has a commission. And so it’s quite common to come across Christians who know the Lord, walk with Him, and have trusted in Christ. They can speak of God’s goodness to them across the years. They think of themselves, in a very humble way, as recipients of the grace of God. But they don’t think of themselves as having received a personal commission from the Lord. A commission by which they’re accountable to him, to serve him, to bring forth fruit, and to please him.
Ezekiel experienced a personal call. Have you had that? Have you been reading your Bible or you’ve heard a message and it’s come to you: I am a commissioned man, a commissioned woman, commissioned to serve the Lord all my life until I see Him, and to be His and His alone, to be a servant of God. And you feel afresh that you are called by God – not just to be a Christian, but a servant of the Lord.
Ezekiel was a priest, having been taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. He was there for five years before he had this tremendous burden laid on him by the Lord. He’d no doubt functioned to a limited degree as a priest even before this call. He was among the other captives. He wasn’t somebody who was parachuted in from outside, but was well known to them, and an example to them.
Now he was going to have an immensely unpopular ministry. But when he began, he couldn’t be blamed for anything. They couldn’t dismiss him on account of his character. They wanted to dismiss him because his message was not welcome. But they couldn’t say ‘oh, we know what a rogue he is.’ He was someone who could be commended. He was unblameable, having suffered the same rigours, ill-treatment and fear, as a fellow captive. He understood them. He had been proved.
It is a pattern for ministers today – they must first be proved in the local church, as Sunday School teachers, active church members alongside others, active evangelists. Only then can they be called higher.
These applications – along with many others – arise from this remarkable book.
Related Resources
Securing The Lord’s Blessing
‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.’
The Golden Chain of Blessing
The apostle is about to unfold the great ‘cycle’ of spiritual experience for Christian workers by teaching the golden chain of pressures (prayer: encouragement: thanksgiving). He wants all Christians to see pressures turn into spiritual encouragements, such as deliverances, provisions, strength and fruitfulness.
Humility Essential for Blessing
‘Humility of mind’ – what a term! We do not always see this on the evangelical scene today. We see ministers revelling in what they call authority and power and gifts, endlessly expressing their opinions and devising new methods of worship and outreach with huge self-confidence. But the motto of Paul is ‘all humility of mind’.