Ezekiel 3
SIBEzekiel 3:1-3
This roll noted his prophetic commission, or the messages he was to deliver. The eating imported his cordial reception of his messages, and serious meditation on them, that he might understand them. Its being sweet in his mouth, imported that his commission was delightful to him at first, though afterwards he was filled with grief and anguish, when he found that he was to deliver such terrible messages, and those to be so little regarded. 8, 9. I will endow thee with boldness to deliver my messages, and with courage and constancy to hold out against all opposition
Ezekiel 3:12-14
The great rushing, &c. denotes the great commotions and troubles which he was to foretell, and in which God would be glorified.—The noise of the wings of the animals, and of the wheels, denotes the great activity of angels, ministers, and others, in executing God’s threatenings and providences
Ezekiel 3:20
If a man who is but apparently righteous, without any real principle of grace, abandon his seemingly virtuous course, and give up himself to a continued practice of wickedness, and I lay in his way what his lusts shall improve to his destruction, whatever seeming good things Q F once appeared about him shall in no wise avail to prevent his punishment. And, if thou hast not warned him, thou shalt be punished, as guilty of his destruction
Ezekiel 3:25
These bands may either denote the restraints which God put upon him during his four hundred and thirty days emblematical siege of Jerusalem, [chap. iv.] or the restraints which the Jews would lay upon him, in order to prevent his denouncing judgments against them
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. III.—God’s word ought to be received, as the delightful food of our soul, without disputing: and, the more readily we obey God’s difficult commandments, we shall receive the more comfort in the issue. Saints may receive with delight what speaks terror to the wicked. And they who minister in holy things ought to meditate on and experience their subject before they deliver it to others. But, unless God give them a spirit of wisdom and understanding, their own labours can avail but little. The more impudent sinners are in opposition to religion, the more bold and resolute should ministers and others appear in defence of it, that, if any obstinately reject the counsel of God, they may be rendered evensable. And, if we be called to hard services, he will fit and furnish us for them. Nor must the want of desired success discourage us, or in the least abate our faithfulness and diligence. What struggles of fear and unbelief may there be where grace reigns! It is very discouraging for ministers to be sent to preach to such as are uncontrollably wicked, and hate to be reformed. And their great griefs are often too big to be uttered. But God can bow their hearts as well as furnish their heads, and so prevent their refusal or desertion of their work. And he often for a time straitens them whom he intends to exalt.—Perseverance in sin and apostasy from God must certainly issue in temporal and eternal destruction. But readily will God pardon the most wicked, if penitent. O the infinite importance of the ministerial office! What influence the execution thereof hath upon the everlasting happiness or misery of mankind! and ministers are acquitted, or condemned as guilty, of the destruction of souls, as they faithfully deliver God’s messages or not. Men’s apostasy from, or perseverance in good works, clearly manifest the counterfeit or real nature of their religion and grace. But they who follow God’s direction shall have his necessary comforts always attending them. They, who sinfully evade God’s public work, are ordinarily punished with temporary restraints from it: and they who hate reproof are deprived of faithful reprovers. Such as intend public preaching ought to be prepared for it by much reading, meditation, and prayer, as their messages are deeply connected with the eternal salvation and damnation of multitudes