Ezekiel 3:1-27, NIV
MM
..scroll to eat..as sweet as honey in my mouth…..the house of Israel is not willing to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate…will make you as unyielding and hardened vs 1-9…Fo not be afraid of them or terrified by them..vs 9.
Ezekiel was given the responsibility of a watchman to warn the people of israel (exile) to turn from their evil ways vs 16-21. If he fails this responsibility, he will be held accountable for his (the wicked man’s) blood vs 18, vs 20.
Interesting observation-even the righteous man who strays…the righteous things he did will not be remembered..vs 20.
Talking about listening and talking restraint…will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth..silent and unable to rebuke them..rebellious house…But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you will say to them….vs 26-27.
Ezekiel 3:16-27, GNB
[16]After the seven days had passed, the Lord spoke to me.
[17]“Mortal man,” he said, “I am making you a watchman for the nation of Israel. You will pass on to them the warnings I give you.
[18]If I announce that an evil person is going to die but you do not warn him to change his ways so that he can save his life, he will die, still a sinner, and I will hold you responsible for his death.
[19]If you do warn an evil man and he doesn’t stop sinning, he will die, still a sinner, but your life will be spared.
[20]“If a truly good person starts doing evil and I put him in a dangerous situation, he will die if you do not warn him. He will die because of his sins — I will not remember the good he did — and I will hold you responsible for his death.
[21]If you do warn a good man not to sin and he listens to you and doesn’t sin, he will stay alive, and your life will also be spared.”
[22]I felt the powerful presence of the Lord and heard him say to me, “Get up and go out into the valley. I will talk to you there.”
[23]So I went out into the valley, and there I saw the glory of the Lord, just as I had seen it beside the River Chebar. I fell face downwards on the ground,
[24]but God’s Spirit entered me and raised me to my feet. The Lord said to me, “Go home and shut yourself up in the house.
[25]You will be tied with ropes, mortal man, and you will not be able to go out in public.
[26]I will paralyse your tongue so that you won’t be able to warn these rebellious people.
[27]Then, when I speak to you again and give you back the power of speech, you will tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying. Some of them will listen, but some will ignore you, for they are a nation of rebels.”