THERE are some lessons for us all to be learned from the call of God to Ezekiel, the prophet.
In Ezekiel’s days, Israel was in rebellion against Jehovah. They cared not, nay, they often refused, to hear His word―and especially when that word spoke to them of their sins, and of God’s judgment against their sin. Let us observe, then, the first great element in Ezekiel’s commission. It is this, the proclamation of the authority of God’s word, “I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them THUS SAITH THE LORD” ―(ch. 2:4). Never was there a greater need that God’s servants should go to men in Christendom with this message, “Thus saith the Lord,” than now. For in Christendom, as in Israel of old, men are rebellious and stiff-hearted; they refuse the authority of Scriptures and to listen to God’s word. Let then our testimony begin and end with “Thus saith the Lord.” Let us use the actual words of Scripture, the “Thus saith the Lord” which never varies, and can never be altered, the everlasting word of God.
A second great principle was this: He was to make the word of God which he spake HIS OWN EXPERIMENTAL portion. Jehovah said to him, “Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house” — who would not receive the word of God, the “Thus saith the Lord” — “open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.”
“And when I looked, behold, a hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; and He spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe” (vers. 8-10). Now the testimony of God’s word against sin is most bitter. The Scriptures speak of the “great white throne,” of the “day of judgment,” of “everlasting punishment,” of “hell fire,” and hence most terrible are its lamentations, and its mourning, and its woe. Be not rebellious, fellow Christians, like the rebellious in Christendom of this day; “eat that thou findest,” make it your own, let it be spiritually part of your very self; “eat this roll,” feed upon the truths of the Bible, “and go speak unto” your fellow men.
“Then,” said the prophet, “did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.” Yes, the bitter things of God’s word are sweet in the mouth of the true servant of God. Bitter indeed are lies! Oh! how bitter in the day of judgment will be the present false testimony of so-called Christian men, who say, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace! Eat the roll―make the word of God your own spiritual food― and then “go speak” to whomsoever you may be sent.
These principles apply as much to the Sunday-school class as to the pulpit―as much to the whisper at the bedside as to the call to the crowded congregation. “Receive” the truth “in thine heart” (chapter 3:10), and so go forth to testify for the Lord.