Despite training, Israelites were ignorant of doctrine, choosing uninspired nonsense over the Word. They thought Exodus taught that parental sin was punished in children. Ezekiel denies it, unless children choose to sin. A call to personal knowledge of doctrine and conduct – so rare today.
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.
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