Ezekiel 2:1-8 Dont Neglect Your Call - Revision history

Wakefien at 13:56, 19 May 2025

2025-05-19T13:56:44Z

Wakefien: /* Entrench — Answering God's call demands that we listen to God's voice and tune out the rest (6-8). */

2025-05-14T15:31:57Z

‎Entrench — Answering God's call demands that we listen to God's voice and tune out the rest (6-8).

Wakefien: /* Endure — Success is not measured by outcomes; success is measured by obedience (4-5). */

2025-05-14T15:23:56Z

‎Endure — Success is not measured by outcomes; success is measured by obedience (4-5).

Wakefien: /* Image: David Brainerd (1718-1747) — Missionary to Native Americans */

2025-05-14T15:19:25Z

‎Image: David Brainerd (1718-1747) — Missionary to Native Americans

Wakefien: /* God calls on us to minister to other humans, fallen humans (3). */

2025-05-14T15:17:40Z

‎God calls on us to minister to other humans, fallen humans (3).

Wakefien: /* God empowers humans to do even that which God commands (2). */

2025-05-14T15:15:06Z

‎God empowers humans to do even that which God commands (2).

Wakefien: /* God chooses to work with mere humans (1). */

2025-05-14T15:14:13Z

‎God chooses to work with mere humans (1).

Wakefien: /* Empowered — God's call is about God, not the individual or the group (1-3). */

2025-05-14T15:11:20Z

‎Empowered — God's call is about God, not the individual or the group (1-3).

Wakefien: /* Prophetic Ministry in Exile (593-571 BC, Babylon by the Kebar River) */

2025-05-14T15:09:52Z

‎Prophetic Ministry in Exile (593-571 BC, Babylon by the Kebar River)

Wakefien at 15:03, 14 May 2025

2025-05-14T15:03:43Z

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 <mark>The history of Israel was a history of rebellion.</mark> These people had the very law of God and regularly, repeatedly chose rebellion! How could this be? Simple, humans are fallen, and guess what fallen humans do? They rebel against the holy Creator.
-<mark>Here in just three verses, we have seen an incredible truth. Ezekiel's call was not about him or the people; it was about God.<./mark>
+<mark>Here in just three verses, we have seen an incredible truth. Ezekiel's call was not about him or the people; it was about God.</mark>
 You have been called to serve. Some of you are called to serve as teachers, some as deacons, some as helpers, some cleaning, some doing yard work, or any number of positions, but what we need to realize is that we are called to serve a Holy God, working from a position of humility with fallen people.

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 ==''Entrench'' — Answering God's call demands that we listen to God's voice and tune out the rest (6-8).==
-Maybe explore the encouragement given to Ezekiel to not fear opposition, focusing on how servanthood requires courage. Highlight how God equips His servants to face adversities with boldness, reminding Christians that their service is for God's pleasure, not man's approval.
+Consider the encouragement given to Ezekiel to not fear opposition, focusing on how servanthood requires courage. God equips His servants to face adversities with boldness, reminding Christians that their service is for God's pleasure, not man's approval.
 ===God's call is not something that can be ignored; it is a must (6-7).===
-The call of God is not a call to ease or even success, but that doesn't mean you can choose to ignore it. Take a second and look at the way in which God describes the congregation to which Ezekiel is called to minister: thorns, briers, scorpions. If you minister to people long enough, you will find that there are people who are thorns. Don't worry; if you are worried I am talking about you, I am almost certainly not. In general, if you are worried about being a thorn, you probably are not, and the scorpions know they are scorpions and don't worry about it at all! But it is true; there are people who will hurt, poke, and even attack.
+The call of God is not a call to ease or even success, but that doesn't mean you can choose to ignore it. Take a second and look at the way in which God describes the congregation to which Ezekiel is called to minister: thorns, briers, scorpions. <mark>If you minister to people long enough, you will find that there are people who are thorns.</mark> Don't worry; if you are worried I am talking about you, I am almost certainly not. In general, if you are worried about being a thorn, you probably are not, and the scorpions know they are scorpions and don't worry about it at all! But it is true; there are people who will hurt, poke, and even attack.
 I think that when I worked at UNL, I probably worked just as many hours as I do at the church, but the difference was that when someone was having a bad day, I just shut my door and kept to myself. In serving God, I cannot just ignore the hard parts. Now it is my vocation, but everyone here is called to serve God, and that means that you are called to serve despite thorns, briers, and scorpions. You cannot just ignore the hard parts of service.
-In verse seven, God makes it very explicit, telling Ezekiel that it might be hard, but it is still a must. Ezekiel, you must speak my words. Three times in verse 6, God told Ezekiel, "Do not be afraid." The work was going to be hard, and at times painful; God called Ezekiel to be strong.
+<mark>In verse seven, God makes it very explicit, telling Ezekiel that it might be hard, but it is still a must.</mark> Ezekiel, you must speak my words. <mark>Three times in verse 6, God told Ezekiel, "Do not be afraid."</mark> The work was going to be hard, and at times painful; God called Ezekiel to be strong.
 ===God's call is a dangerous call because we can easily fall into the trap of rebellion ourselves (8a).===
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 One of my favorite clips from the movie ''101 Dalmatians'' is the scene where people are walking by with their dogs, and each pair is perfectly matched. You know what I mean? In some way, the dog looks just like the owner.
-In serving God, one of the biggest dangers is that we, as we work with fallen people, enter into a state of rebellion. This might mean you fall into a state of acting like those you were called to serve. It might mean you flat out refuse to answer the call. Regardless, we must be on guard and be fully committed to God.
+<mark>In serving God, one of the biggest dangers is that we, as we work with fallen people, enter into a state of rebellion.</mark> This might mean you fall into a state of acting like those you were called to serve. It might mean you flat out refuse to answer the call. Regardless, we must be on guard and be fully committed to God.
 ===God's call may not be what you want, but it is certainly what you need (8b).===
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 Consuming the scroll probably carries the idea that Ezekiel is to be fully open to and filled with the words of God. But I wonder if it has additional meaning. Specifically, true nourishment in life comes from doing the will of God.
-Take a second with me and look at [https://ref.ly/Jn4.31-34 John 4:31-34]: "Meanwhile his disciples urged him, 'Rabbi, eat something.' But he said to them, 'I have food to eat that you know nothing about.' Then his disciples said to each other, 'Could someone have brought him food?' 'My food,' said Jesus, 'is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.'"
+<mark>Take a second with me and look at [https://ref.ly/Jn4.31-34 John 4:31-34]: "Meanwhile his disciples urged him, 'Rabbi, eat something.' But he said to them, 'I have food to eat that you know nothing about.' Then his disciples said to each other, 'Could someone have brought him food?' 'My food,' said Jesus, 'is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.'"</mark>
 Doing the work of God can be hard at times, but it is always worth it!

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 ==''Endure'' — Success is not measured by outcomes; success is measured by obedience (4-5).==
-Perhaps examine Ezekiel's mission to a rebellious people, emphasizing the unwavering commitment required even when the message is not received well. This can inspire believers to remain faithful and bold, remembering that the role of a servant is to deliver God's message, regardless of public acceptance.
+Ezekiel's mission to a rebellious people demonstrates the unwavering commitment required even when the message is not received well. We must remain faithful and bold, remembering that the role of a servant is to deliver God's message, regardless of public acceptance.
 ===Fallen humans are, at their core, fallen (4).===
-How would you like to be told that you have a job to do and you are expected to fail? The word that God chose to use in verse 4 is the word "obstinate," which can mean "hard of face." In other words, these people were the sort of individuals who would willfully ignore a message from God and instead choose to do their own thing. The stubbornness of the people had been established for generations.
+<mark>How would you like to be told that you have a job to do and you are expected to fail?</mark> The word that God chose to use in verse 4 is the word "obstinate," which can mean "hard of face." In other words, these people were the sort of individuals who would willfully ignore a message from God and instead choose to do their own thing. The stubbornness of the people had been established for generations.
 It didn't matter if Ezekiel had a message from God; these people were not interested in what God had to say unless the message of God aligned with their own stubborn will.
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 In fact, the Jews, at the time of Ezekiel's prophecy, were in captivity. Yet, instead of acknowledging their role in bringing about Babylonian captivity, the Jews saw this as just a minor setback, refusing to admit sin and judgment.
-But we are no different. I cannot tell you how many times I have watched someone who has a sin problem play the victim card over and over again instead of changing their own behaviors. If you have been called to serve, and you have, you are called to serve fallen people, and at times you are going to be frustrated by fallen people acting fallen!
+But we are no different. I cannot tell you how many times I have watched someone who has a sin problem play the victim card over and over again instead of changing their own behaviors. <mark>If you have been called to serve, and you have, you are called to serve fallen people, and at times you are going to be frustrated by fallen people acting fallen!</mark>
 ===God's plan may include success; it may include failure, but what really matters is carrying out God's plan (5a).===
-In the first part of verse 5, God makes a pretty amazing statement. Ezekiel, your job is not to worry about how the people respond; your job is to deliver my message. Only God can give this sort of job. We say things like this sometimes to kids: "I don't care if you win or lose; all I care about is that you play your best." But really, do we understand that? Here God tells Ezekiel that the outcome is not significant; it is the obedience that matters.
+In the first part of verse 5, God makes a pretty amazing statement. Ezekiel, your job is not to worry about how the people respond; your job is to deliver my message. Only God can give this sort of job. We say things like this sometimes to kids: <mark>"I don't care if you win or lose; all I care about is that you play your best."</mark> But really, do we understand that? Here God tells Ezekiel that the outcome is not significant; it is the obedience that matters.
 ===Success is measured by obedience to the call of God (5b).===
-I don't think I can stress this enough. Success is measured by obedience, not results. This flies in the face of so much we have been taught for so long. You know the saying, "A is for effort?" Well, it has some truth. You know the whole idea of participation trophies? Okay, there are problems with that, but what we have here is obedience trophies.
+<mark>I don't think I can stress this enough. Success is measured by obedience, not results.</mark> This flies in the face of so much we have been taught for so long. You know the saying, "A is for effort?" Well, it has some truth. <mark>You know the whole idea of participation trophies? Okay, there are problems with that, but what we have here is obedience trophies.</mark>
 God cared that His people knew that He was speaking to them, and so Ezekiel's job is to speak. How the people responded to the message was not on Ezekiel.
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 I think the thing that bothers me most is that very few emails or pastor's conferences I have seen are putting a focus on how to properly handle the message of God. In fact, at most pastors' conferences, what I hear people talking about is their webpages and social media accounts, a little about their rest habits, some complaining, and guess what? Very rarely, if ever, do I hear pastors talking about the exegesis of Scripture.
-The command given to pastors is [https://ref.ly/2Ti4.2 2 Timothy 4:2]: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction."
+<mark>The command given to pastors is [https://ref.ly/2Ti4.2 2 Timothy 4:2]: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction."</mark>
 Churches all across America have the wrong measure of success, but I am guessing it is not just pastors who are wrongly measuring success. I am guessing that nearly all of us are mis-measuring success.

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 He did not seek recognition — his heart was broken before God. In his journals, he often referred to his own weakness and unworthiness. Yet his life and short ministry powerfully impacted later missionary movements, including William Carey and Henry Martyn. God's calling on his life was clearly about God's greatness, not Brainerd's.
-David Brainerd's ministry among Native Americans in the mid-1700s was short — just four years — but remarkably fruitful. Despite chronic illness, depression, and cultural barriers, Brainerd saw genuine conversions, particularly among the Delaware Indians at Crossweeksung, New Jersey, where the Holy Spirit moved powerfully and many were deeply convicted of sin and turned to Christ. He learned their language, preached faithfully, and discipled new believers, forming a small, vibrant Christian community. Though he died young, his life left a lasting legacy through the posthumous publication of his journal by Jonathan Edwards. ''The Life and Diary of David Brainerd'' went on to inspire generations of missionaries, including William Carey, Henry Martyn, and Jim Elliot. His work helped shape the theology and vision of modern missions by modeling humility, dependence on God, and cross-cultural ministry. Like Ezekiel, Brainerd's success was not in numbers, but in faithful obedience and spiritual impact that outlived him.
+David Brainerd's ministry among Native Americans in the mid-1700s was short — just four years — but remarkably fruitful. Despite chronic illness, depression, and cultural barriers, Brainerd saw genuine some conversions. He learned their language, preached faithfully, and discipled new believers, forming a small, vibrant Christian community. But again, his ministry was only 4 years. Though he died young, his life left a lasting legacy through the posthumous publication of his journal by Jonathan Edwards. ''The Life and Diary of David Brainerd'' went on to inspire generations of missionaries, including William Carey, Henry Martyn, and Jim Elliot. His work helped shape the theology and vision of modern missions by modeling humility, dependence on God, and cross-cultural ministry. Like Ezekiel, Brainerd's success was not in numbers, but in faithful obedience and spiritual impact that outlived him.
 Summary Quote:

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 Again in verse 3, we see the title "Son of Man." Ezekiel, just in case you have already forgotten, remember that you are just a human. Nevertheless, God has a message that you need to share. However, before we get to the message, we are told about the audience.
-The message that Ezekiel was to share was a message for the Israelites. That would have come as no surprise. Ezekiel was himself an Israelite, and would have expected nothing less, but the descriptors are where the surprise lies. The Israelites are described by God as rebellious. Ouch, that seems kind of harsh, right?
+The message that Ezekiel was to share was a message for the Israelites. That would have come as no surprise. Ezekiel was himself an Israelite, and would have expected nothing less, but the descriptors are where the surprise lies. <mark>The Israelites are described by God as rebellious. Ouch, that seems kind of harsh, right?</mark>
 Indeed, the Israelites were a rebellious people. Going all the way back to Moses and the Exodus, we see a rebellious spirit. Think about it: in [https://ref.ly/Ex32 Exodus 32], while Moses is receiving the very Law of God on Mt. Sinai, what do we see the people of Israel doing? Erecting a Golden Calf to worship.
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 By the time we get to [https://ref.ly/Nu16 Numbers 16], Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are leading a rebellion. Throughout the judges, we see a cycle of rebellion. Jeroboam leads a rebellion that splits the nation and eventually gives way to Ahab and Jezebel. When I was baptized as a child, my grandpa gave me a children's Bible study Bible, and I used to enjoy looking at a chart in the Bible that showed all the kings of Israel and Judah and marked them as a "good" king or a "bad" king. Guess what? The vast majority were bad kings.
-The history of Israel was a history of rebellion. These people had the very law of God and regularly, repeatedly chose rebellion! How could this be? Simple, humans are fallen, and guess what fallen humans do? They rebel against the holy Creator.
+<mark>The history of Israel was a history of rebellion.</mark> These people had the very law of God and regularly, repeatedly chose rebellion! How could this be? Simple, humans are fallen, and guess what fallen humans do? They rebel against the holy Creator.
-Here in just three verses, we have seen an incredible truth. Ezekiel's call was not about him or the people; it was about God.
+<mark>Here in just three verses, we have seen an incredible truth. Ezekiel's call was not about him or the people; it was about God.<./mark>
 You have been called to serve. Some of you are called to serve as teachers, some as deacons, some as helpers, some cleaning, some doing yard work, or any number of positions, but what we need to realize is that we are called to serve a Holy God, working from a position of humility with fallen people.

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 So, two things are vital for us to recognize. As stated earlier, we are mere humans. We need to realize our insignificance in comparison with the God of the universe. The second thing we need to realize is our complete lack of ability. God is the one who gave Ezekiel the power even to stand. We need to understand that we do not have the ability to do anything if not empowered by God.
-One of the hardest realities for people to come to grips with is the reality that God has chosen to work through, to enable us. God's power is on display through us, not our own power. Paul speaks to this in a powerful way in [https://ref.ly/2Co12.8-9 2 Corinthians 12:8-9]: "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
+One of the hardest realities for people to come to grips with is the reality that God has chosen to work through, to enable us. God's power is on display through us, not our own power. Paul speaks to this in a powerful way in <mark>[https://ref.ly/2Co12.8-9 2 Corinthians 12:8-9]: "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."</mark>
 I would encourage you to take some time to really reflect on that passage. We don't do things under our own power; we do it under God's power.

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 ===God chooses to work with mere humans (1).===
-Let's dig into the call of Ezekiel in verse 1. The first thing I want you to notice is the title "Son of Man." In the book of Ezekiel, God never calls Ezekiel by name but rather 93 times uses the title "Son of Man" to address the prophet. The title could really mean something like "having the characteristics of a human." That is, the title emphasizes the frailty and mortality of Ezekiel. This man has a message of divine significance but cannot lose sight of the fact that he is only a man. The title stresses the distance between the God of the universe and His messenger.
+Let's dig into the call of Ezekiel in verse 1. The first thing I want you to notice is the title "Son of Man." <mark>In the book of Ezekiel, God never calls Ezekiel by name but rather 93 times uses the title "Son of Man" to address the prophet.</mark> The title could really mean something like "having the characteristics of a human." That is, the title emphasizes the frailty and mortality of Ezekiel. This man has a message of divine significance but cannot lose sight of the fact that he is only a man. The title stresses the distance between the God of the universe and His messenger.
 We need to realize something significant when we consider the job we have been given in carrying the Gospel into the world. We need to realize that we are merely humans. The title represents both human frailty and the privilege of being a messenger for God. The title conveys the importance of understanding one's role in delivering God's word, regardless of the reception it receives from the audience.
-Take a second and think about it. The message God has is important; it is God's message. The people, we will see, are going to be stubborn. It is not about them, and it is not about Ezekiel, it is about God. We live in a world that loves titles. People like to go around with the title "Dr. So-and-So," "Pastor So-and-So," "President So-and-So," and the list goes on. Look, if you want to show someone honor by using a title, go for it, but if you want people to show you honor by using one of your titles, then you need to get over yourself and recognize yourself by the title "Son of Man." God's message, His work, is not about you; it is about God!
+Take a second and think about it. The message God has is important; it is God's message. <mark>The people, we will see, are going to be stubborn. It is not about them, and it is not about Ezekiel, it is about God.</mark> We live in a world that loves titles. People like to go around with the title "Dr. So-and-So," "Pastor So-and-So," "President So-and-So," and the list goes on. Look, if you want to show someone honor by using a title, go for it, but if you want people to show you honor by using one of your titles, then you need to get over yourself and recognize yourself by the title "Son of Man." God's message, His work, is not about you; it is about God!
 I think we need to realize that the honor is not in a title; the honor is in the reality that God is choosing to work through a mere human.

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 ==''Empowered'' — God's call is about God, not the individual or the group (1-3).==
-You could focus on Ezekiel's calling, which demonstrates God's initiative in choosing and preparing His servants for the message they must deliver. Highlight that serving God begins with His command and empowerment. Like Ezekiel, believers need to recognize that their calling comes from God, and they should be committed to that calling even when faced with challenges.
+Ezekiel's calling demonstrates God's initiative in choosing and preparing His servants for the message they must deliver. Serving God begins with His command and empowerment. Like Ezekiel, believers need to recognize that their calling comes from God, and they should be committed to that calling even when faced with challenges.
 ===God chooses to work with mere humans (1).===

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 Ezekiel received his prophetic call around 593 BC, five years into his exile ([https://ref.ly/Eze1.1-2 Ezekiel 1:1-2]). He lived and prophesied among the Jewish exiles by the Kebar River ([https://ref.ly/Eze3.15 Ezekiel 3:15]). His ministry was marked by dramatic visions (such as the vision of God's glory, [https://ref.ly/Eze1 Ezekiel 1]) and symbolic acts (such as lying on his side to represent the siege of Jerusalem, [https://ref.ly/Eze4.4-6 Ezekiel 4:4-6]), calling the people to repentance and explaining the meaning of Jerusalem's coming fall.
-Ezekiel prophesied until 571 BC and guess what, by most metrics we would deem Ezekiel's ministry as largely unsuccessful. In fact, many of those to whom Ezekiel was speaking wouldn't even take him seriously. Ezekiel kept talking about the fall of Jerusalem, which did end up occurring in 586 BC, and was hardly optimistic about the future of Judah.
+In Ezekiel 37, the prophet is taken by God to a valley filled with dry bones, symbolizing the lifeless state of Israel. At God's command, Ezekiel prophesies to the bones, and they miraculously come together, are covered with flesh, and receive breath, becoming a vast army. This vision represents God's promise to restore and revive the people of Israel, bringing them back from exile and giving them new spiritual life.
-Nevertheless, I think there is much we can learn from this prophet.
+The song Rattle! that we just sang draws directly from this powerful image, celebrating the same resurrection power that brings dead bones to life and proclaiming that miracles still happen. Just as God revived a lifeless people, the song reminds us that He still breathes life into what seems hopeless today.
 ==Text: [https://ref.ly/Eze2.1-8 Ezekiel 2:1-8] — Read all at the beginning.==

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 ==Preview: God calls Ezekiel to be His messenger to the people of Israel, emphasizing the importance of standing firm and speaking His words amidst opposition and rejection.==
 ==Setting the Stage==
+Let me set the stake for you here. We are going to look at Ezekiel today but before we do that let me take a few minutes to give you some background.
 ===Early Life and Background (circa 622-597 BC, Jerusalem area)===
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 Nevertheless, I think there is much we can learn from this prophet.
 =Body=