What is the meaning of Ezekiel 3:3? “Son of man,” • God repeatedly addresses Ezekiel this way (over 90 times in the book), highlighting his humanity in contrast to the divine voice commissioning him (Ezekiel 2:1; Daniel 8:17). • This title underscores that the message is not Ezekiel’s own but God’s, guarding against pride and reminding listeners that the Lord chooses ordinary people—echoing Psalm 8:4 and, ultimately, foreshadowing the title Jesus embraces in Luke 19:10. • The phrase roots the authority of the passage in real history and real persons, affirming the literal accuracy of Scripture. He said to me • The initiative comes from God; Ezekiel is the listener, not the originator (Hebrews 1:1; 2 Peter 1:21). • Revelation is personal: “to me.” God’s Word is meant to be received individually before it is proclaimed publicly (Psalm 25:14). • The Spirit’s earlier entry into Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:2) shows that divine enabling always accompanies divine command. “eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.” • “Eat” moves beyond intellectual assent to full internalization—God wants His prophet to digest truth so thoroughly it becomes part of him (Jeremiah 15:16; Matthew 4:4). • “Fill your stomach” pictures satisfaction and completeness; nothing else is needed to sustain ministry (Deuteronomy 8:3; 1 Peter 2:2). • The scroll holds “words of lament and mourning and woe” (Ezekiel 2:10), yet Ezekiel must take in the entire message, pleasant or painful—mirrored later when John consumes a little scroll in Revelation 10:9–10. • Because the scroll is “given,” the prophet’s authority rests solely on divine gifting, not personal creativity (1 Corinthians 4:7). So I ate • Immediate obedience characterizes faithful servants (Genesis 6:22; John 4:34). • Ezekiel’s willingness models how disciples should respond to any Word from the Lord—no editing, no delay (James 1:22). • By acting, Ezekiel sets the stage for effective proclamation; one cannot speak what one has not first received. “and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.” • Though the scroll contains judgment, its origin makes it delightful—“sweeter than honey” just as Psalm 19:10 and Psalm 119:103 describe God’s statutes. • Truth’s sweetness equips Ezekiel to endure rejection later (Ezekiel 3:7–9), reminding him that God’s Word remains a joy even when the audience resists. • The experience anticipates Proverbs 24:13–14, where honey symbolizes wisdom’s pleasant reward. Revelation 10:9 shows a similar sweetness-to-bitterness progression, emphasizing both the delight and the burden of prophetic ministry. summary Ezekiel 3:3 pictures a literal act with lasting meaning: God calls a very human “son of man,” speaks directly to him, commands him to ingest the full counsel of His revealed Word, and empowers immediate obedience that proves sweet to the soul. The verse teaches that authentic ministry begins with personally embracing Scripture until it saturates the inner life, bringing delight even when the message itself includes sober warning. |
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