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The Grind

Savor the taste of our previous brew

Since everything in the leads into and prepares the way for what comes after it, refresh yesterday’s Brew to let the previous passage get you ready for today’s verses. Though you should have already explored the passage, personally with Jesus, here is the heart of what we saw, together. In the previous passage, verses 16-21, the LORD posts as a symbolic watchman on the walls to warn the population of danger. 16 This passage is the first of two inserted here to expand on the main elements at the close of the previous one. Borrowing snippets from chapters 18 and 33, verses 16-21 build on the reference to “seven days” in v.15, while briefly summarizing 1:1-2:2, verses 22-27 develop the expression, “the LORD’s hold on me” from v.14.

The linking word “after,” shows that this passage follows what happened in the previous one. Referring back to Ezekiel’s seven-day stay among the exiles, this one begins with “the LORD [entrusting him with] a message” at the end of the seven days. In other words, the LORD waited a week before charging His young with the responsibilities of ministry, the same time Ezekiel spent acquainting himself with the exiles. Only after he had become their neighbor did the LORD give him words meant for the exiles. Ministers never talk at others. Instead they pass on what God has told them, first. Standing in the place of their audience to receive a message as one of them, ministers simply relay what God wants them and their audience to hear. Like Christ, they must number themselves with the transgressors in order to work for their salvation. After seven days At the end of the week the LORD gave me a message. the Eternal One entrusted me, Ezekiel with the words He wanted me to deliver to the rebels on His behalf He said, Let me quote Him

17 Verse 17 previews 33:7, word for word. The LORD addresses Ezekiel as “Son of man,” reminding him of his place, to set up the authority of the word “appointed.” Not only has the LORD assigned him a role to play as a prophet, but Ezekiel’s commission “as a watchman” calls on “the house of ” descended from Jacob to recognize him as His official spokesperson. Regardless of what the exiles say or do to him, they cannot change his divinely ordained status. Watchmen normally mount the wall of a city to warn its citizens of approaching danger. Since Ezekiel will share funeral dirges, expressions of haunting grief, and pronouncements of doom––all expressions of imminent trouble––the LORD orders him to play the part of a watchman, saying: “Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.” As its first recipient, Ezekiel is supposed to share what God tells him in an air of urgency, as too important to ignore, as a matter of life and death that requires swift action. Otherwise, the people might put off reacting to these divine cues, intended to provoke instant reactions from them. (see, Mt. 28:18-20) “Son of man, Descendant of Adam, or mere Human I have appointed you I, the Eternal One have assigned you as a watchman like a sentinel on the walls of a city for the house of Israel. for the descendants of Jacob Whenever you receive a message from me, At any time you get a communication from me warn people immediately. Sound the alarm right away for them

18 From the summary in v.17 of Ezekiel’s ministry, the LORD now explains what He expects from Ezekiel when he communicates with the wicked in verses 18 and 19, and with the righteous in verses 20 and 21. He underscores the urgency of the messages by describing their outcomes for Ezekiel. Instead of merely restating God’s words for the exiles as a disinterested third party, Ezekiel has a real stake in his ministry and faces dire consequences for failure to deliver them on time and without personal compassion. The linking word, “If,” sets up a hypothetical situation: “[Let’s say] I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death [a pretty urgent situation],’ but you [feeling safe and above it all, detach yourself from the exiles and] fail to deliver the warning.” Then, two things will happen: first, since you didn’t sound the alarm to trigger their survival instincts, “they [the rebels] will [continue their unlawful ways, and] die in their sins.” And, second, instead of escaping their fate, “I will hold you responsible for their deaths,” and you will suffer for not doing anything to save them. So far as God is concerned, whoever fails to warn others when it is in his power to save them, is a killer. As Solomon warns in Prov. 24:11-12: “Rescue those who are being dragged off to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.” Reflecting on the same scenario, James says at the end of his letter: “whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins” (Jas. 5:20). If I warn the wicked, Lets say I, the Eternal One sound the alarm for the immoral saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ announcing, you are doomed to die but you fail to deliver the warning, yet, you keep what I want them to hear, to yourself they will die in their sins. The immoral will perish within their twisted perversions of my will And plus I will hold you responsible for their deaths. I will consider you their killer.

19 The linking word, “If,” sets up another hypothetical situation with a very different outcome for Ezekiel: “[Let’s say] you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning“, a very likely result, since they have refused to obey the LORD up to now. Then, in that case, “they will die in their sins [as they deserve],” while “you will have saved yourself.” Since the rebels still die, the LORD does not spare Ezekiel because he tried to save them, but “because you obeyed me.” So, in v.18, the LORD threatens to punish Ezekiel, not for disobeying Him but for a failure to carry out His mission, resulting in their deaths. Here, the LORD rewards Ezekiel, not because he tried to save the rebels, but because He carried out his orders. This reminds us of the time when Jesus was hanging on the cross––the people taunted Him, trying to trick Him into disobeying His Heavenly Father––but our Savior remained faithful to His mission. In a similar way, by disregarding their disrespect and ignoring their threats, Ezekiel points to Christ, remaining faithful to His divine mission regardless of what the rebels say or do to Him. If Let’s say you warn them you, Ezekiel, sound the alarm for the exiles and but they refuse to repent the rebels deliberately choose not to express sincere regret and turn away from their sinful past, and plus keep on sinning, continue their immorality, doing whatever they please they will die in their sins. The rebels will kill themselves within their own twisted perversions of my will But however you will have saved yourself you, Ezekiel will have rescued yourself because you obeyed me. Since you carried out my orders.

20 The Lord proposes another hypothetical situation: “Let’s say righteous people turn away from [or, reverse direction away from] their righteous behavior,” so that they lose their way to the kingdom. Unless something helps them to change course and find the way, again they will never arrive at the house of the LORD to spend eternity with Him (cf. Ps. 23:6). Since everyone has the potential to sin, God does not hold anyone eternally responsible for a temporary lapse in judgment. The word “If” sets up the conditions that must be met for a certain outcome to occur. Here, there are two: the people must “turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles [to block their path and turn them around] I put in their way, [before] they will die.” In other words, until wayward people also reject God’s attempts to stop their forward progress toward destruction, they do not have to die for their disobedience. Whatever the LORD refers to in Ezekiel’s day, this points to the way God put Christ in the path of first-century Israel to cut off its relapse into sin. Described as “a stone that makes people [of Judah and Israel] stumble, a rock that makes them fall... And a trap and a snare for the people of ,” Jesus is, according to 1Pet. 2:8, “the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” “They,” Peter goes on to explain, “[trip over Christ and] stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them” (1Pet. 2:8). But the LORD isn’t finished. There is more to His hypothetical case, this time regarding Ezekiel. The word “and” introduces something else for the prophet to consider on top of what the LORD has already put forward. The word “if” introduces another, shorter “what-if” situation: “In the event that Ezekiel does not warn them [like a good watchman should, not only will it cost them their lives, but] they will [also] die in their sins.” In this way, the LORD underscores the deeper duty of a prophet to an ordinary sentinel. The next line brings out the deeper consequences implied by dying in their sins, and the harsher penalties for a prophet failing to carry out his duty. Crossing the line into unrighteousness also wipes out the record of previous righteousness. Paving the way to utter condemnation, “none of their righteous acts will be remembered,” as if they never obeyed at all. As for Ezekiel, the promises He will personally “hold [Ezekiel] responsible for their deaths.” As we said earlier, whoever fails to warn others when it is in his or her power to save them, is a killer in God’s eyes––whether they are pagans or apostates. “If righteous people Let’s say moral people, people who are right with God turn away from their righteous behavior desert their morality, what pleases God and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, plus deliberately disregard what I put in their path to block them from going any further in the wrong direction they will die. The rebels will self-destruct And if what’s more, Let’s also say you do not warn them, you, Ezekiel fail to sound the alarm for the exiles they will die in their sins. The rebels will kill themselves in their own twisted perversions of My will. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, Every single moral thing from their past will be erased and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. Plus, I will consider you their killer. 21 As v.19 did to v.18, the LORD now offers an alternative scenario in v.21 to v.20. This time, using the word “but,” to enhance the contrast, the LORD proposes a different situation with an opposite outcome. On this occasion, He supposes that Ezekiel warns the righteous so that they listen and do not sin. Notice that unlike a normal watchman who sounds the alarm that danger approaches, he warns the people “not to sin,” presumably to avoid the danger of death and separation from God. Thus, he is a spiritual rather than a natural watchman who warns about sacred instead of empirical dangers. In this case, the righteous “will live,” and Ezekiel will have saved [himself[, too. By rescuing the righteous, Ezekiel will escape the fate of a murderer. (James 5:20). But if On the other hand, let’s say you warn righteous people not to sin you, Ezekiel sound the alarm for moral people not to miss the mark and fall short of God’s will and they listen to you plus they obey your warning and do not sin, so they do not miss the mark of my will and fall short of it they will live, they will preserve themselves and you will have saved yourself, too. What’s more, you, Ezekiel will have also rescued yourself [from a killer’s fate].

Now Serving The Brew Let us pour you a fresh cup, ground verse-by-verse from today’s passage

In today’s passage, verses 22-27, develop the expression, “the LORD’S hold on me” from v.14. So, please open your to Ezekiel Chapter 3, and let me pour you a hot CuppaJesus from today’s brew, starting with v.22.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY Here are the main items in the text that will lead you to its understanding.

PVerse 22 Verse 23 Verse 24 Verse 25 Verse 26 Verse 27 Links Then, and 3x So, and 3x, Then, and 3x So And 2x, so But 2x, just as that, for when, and, then, for Persons The LORD, I, I 4x, my The Spirit, He Son of man, Your 2x, you I 2x, the me, you (Zeke), the (LORD), me you 2x (Zeke), (Zeke), them, Sovereign (Zeke) LORD 3x, my, your, the people they, rebels LORD, them, yourself (Zeke) (rebs) those who 2x, they (rebs) Places Up, out, into, Up, there, in, Into, on, to, to, There, out To (the roof) To (them) to, there by, in among facedown, on Things The valley The glory of, Feet, house Ropes Tongue, the A message, first vision, roof of tongue, this, the Kebar R., mouth what, rebels the ground Words Took hold of, Got, went, Came, set, Will be tied Will make, Give, will said, get, go, saw, had spoke, said, go, with, cannot stick, will be loosen, let will speak seen, fell shut go speechless, speak, will unable to say, is, says, rebuke, are choose to listen, will listen, refuse, will refuse, are Pay careful attention to every item as you follow today’s devotional in your study Bible. We have already grouped them by colors in “Today’s Text,” so you can follow the writer's flow of thought for yourself. Capture and grasp what he is trying to tell you with matching color pencils to draw lines connecting items to others in the same color-family, and a black pencil to cross-link items from different color-families that still have something to do with one another. Use circles, boxes, triangles, etc. to identify topics and themes (triangles, for instance, might represent the Trinity). Also mark with asterisks, etc., the ones you need to look up later for more information or greater details.

TODAY’S TEXT

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION 22 Then the LORD took hold of me and said, “Get up and go out into the valley, and I will speak to you there.” 23 So I got up and went, and there I saw the glory of the LORD, just as I had seen in my first vision by the Kebar River. And I fell face down on the ground. 24 Then the Spirit came into me and set me on my feet. He spoke to me and said, “Go to your house and shut yourself in. 25 There, son of man, you will be tied with ropes so you cannot go out among the people. 26 And I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be speechless and unable to rebuke them, for they are rebels. 27 But when I give you a message, I will loosen your tongue and let you speak. Then you will say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says!’ Those who choose to listen will listen, but those who refuse will refuse, for they are rebels.

THE EXPANDED BIBLE

22 Then I felt the ·power [L hand] of the LORD there. He said to me, “Get up and go out to the ·plain [or valley]. There I will speak to you.”

23 So I got up and went out to the ·plain [or valley]. ·I saw [T And behold] the glory of the LORD [C his manifest presence] standing there, like the glory I saw by the Kebar ·River [Canal; 1:1], and I ·bowed [fell] facedown on the ground. 24 Then the Spirit entered me and ·made me stand [set me] on my feet. He spoke to me and said, “Go, shut yourself up in your house. 25 As for you, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], the people will tie you up with ·ropes [cords] so that you will not be able to go out among them. 26 Also, I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so you will be silent [C Ezekiel would be mute for seven and a half years (see dates in 1:1–3 and 33:21–22), except when the Lord opened his mouth with prophetic revelations; v. 27]. You will not be able to ·argue with [rebuke; reprove] the people, ·even though they turn against me [L for they are a rebellious house].

27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth, and you will say to them, ‘The Lord GOD says this.’ Those who will listen, let them listen. Those who refuse, let them refuse, because they are a ·people who turn against me [rebellious house].

THE SCRIPTURES 1998 came upon me there, and He said to me, “Arise, go out into the plain, so that I יהוה And the hand of 22“ might speak to you there.” stood there, like the esteem יהוה So I got up and went out into the plain, and see, the esteem of 23 which I saw by the River Keḇar, and I fell on my face. 24 And the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 “And you, O son of man, see, they shall put cords on you and bind you with them, so that you do not go out in their midst. 26 “And I make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be dumb and not be a reprover to them, for they are a rebellious house. ’.יהוה But when I speak with you, I open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus said the Master“ 27 He who hears, let him hear. And he who refuses, let him refuse, for they are[…]”

THE NET BIBLE 22 The hand of the LORD rested on me there, and he said to me, “Get up, go out to the valley, and I will speak with you there.” 23 So I got up and went out to the valley, and the glory of the LORD was standing there, just like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I threw myself face down. 24 Then a wind came into me and stood me on my feet. The LORD spoke to me and said, “Go shut yourself in your house. 25 As for you, son of man, they will put ropes on you and tie you up with them, so you cannot go out among them. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will loosen your tongue and you must say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign LORD says.’ Those who listen will listen, but the indifferent will refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL 22 The linking word “then,” shows that the events in this passage occurred after the LORD instructed Ezekiel how to play the part of a watchman for the exiles. It also introduces the implications of the LORD’s hold on His newest prophet, first mentioned in v.14, just as verses 16-21 developed the deeper significance of the seven days referred to in v.15. Symbolizing the LORD’s control and guidance, the divine grip precedes communication from God to emphasize the need for Ezekiel to be under the LORD’s supervision before His commands or instructions can be obeyed. Once Ezekiel is in His grasp, the LORD orders him to “Get up and go out into the valley,” where God will “speak to” him in private. As rebellious as ever, the people are not ready for the message He is about to give to Ezekiel. God chooses the time and place to address the prophet in the place of the people and will also decide when Ezekiel should relay the message to them. 22 Then the LORD Once He instructed me about being a watchman, the Eternal One took hold of me grabbed, or began to influence, me or brought me under His control and to said, tell me “Get up Get going and to go out into the valley, head for the split in the mountains; and then I will speak to you there.” I, the Eternal One will talk to you in that place 23 The linking word “so,” introduces v.23 as the natural outcome of v.22. Instructed to “Get up and go out into the valley,” Ezekiel “got up and went…there.” And, as promised, the LORD met him there. To confirm that He was the same divine Person who called Ezekiel to the ministry, Ezekiel reports, “I saw the glory of the LORD, just as I had seen in my first vision by the Kebar River.” To emphasize that Ezekiel recognized him, Ezekiel admits, “I fell face down on the ground,” just as he did the first time in 1:28. The episode underscores the LORD’s supremacy and sovereignty by highlighting Ezekiel’s inferiority and submission. The text also accents the people’s unfitness for the LORD’s message, by reporting that Ezekiel fainted. While the rebels audaciously rejected the LORD and refused to obey Him, the mere sight of the divine presence proved too much for His dedicated servant. So Because He told me to I got up and went, I, Ezekiel got going and headed out and there I saw the glory of the LORD, when I arrived, the Eternal One revealed His presence to me just as I had seen in my first vision by the Kebar River. Exactly the same way He showed Himself to me during my first encounter with Him on the banks of the largest tributary to the Euphrates River in Syria And I fell face down on the ground. One glimpse knocked me over and I landed on my face! 24 The linking word “then,” shows how swiftly the LORD rewarded Ezekiel’s humility. As soon as he fainted, “the [LORD’s] Spirit came into me and set me on my feet.” As a sign of favor, the LORD’s own Spirit entered Ezekiel and supplied him with strength his own youth could not. To stand in God’s presence, you must have His permission. Remember, Isaiah felt as if God’s presence would rip his atoms apart and reduce him to a pile of dust (Isa. 6). The only thing that saved him from vaporizing on the spot was his willingness to quote the LORD to people who would not listen. Ezekiel had already consented to work with the rebels in spite of their disdain and disrespect. So, the LORD spares Ezekiel from death, revives him with His own Spirit, and grants him permission to stand in His holy presence––to use him for ministry. As promised, the LORD “spoke to,” Ezekiel, ordering him to “Go to your house,” shun public ministry by “shutting yourself in.” By telling Ezekiel to wait until He says it’s time to deliver the message, the LORD demonstrates His “hold” on the prophet, reserving for Himself the authority to decide where and when Ezekiel will speak. 24 Then As soon as I, Ezekiel fainted the Spirit came into me the Eternal One’s breath entered my body and to set me on my feet. Stand me upright He spoke to me the Eternal One started talking to me and said, to tell me “Go to your house Go home and in order to shut yourself in. lock your door

25 The locator, “there,” indicates that while shut up in his house, Ezekiel “will be tied with ropes,” a figurative way of saying God will prevent him from leaving the premises. The linking word “so,” introduces God’s reason for doing this: “you cannot go out among the people.” While the previous verse sounds as if Ezekiel will decide whether or not he remains at home and refrains from public ministry, this verse makes it clear that God is in control. Using the familiar image of binding with ropes, [e.g., to hand Samson over to the Philistines (Judges 15:13), and to confine Satan to the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Rev. 20:2)] so he is unable to move under his own power, the LORD asserts His authority over Ezekiel. It is He rather than Ezekiel who will see to it that the prophet “cannot go out among the people,” a further illustration of His “hold” on the prophet. There, In your house son of man, Descendant of Adam you will be tied with ropes you, will be bound with cords, so to speak so in order to you cannot go out among the people. keep you from mingling with the rebels (so you will know that I can keep you safe from them) 26 The linking word “and,” implies that the LORD has more in mind than simply confining Ezekiel to his home. In addition to controlling his whereabouts, the LORD will also “make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth,” a figurative way of saying He will cause Ezekiel to “be speechless,” or, unable to speak. Despite the temptation to correct them “for they are rebels,” Ezekiel will be “unable to rebuke [or, argue with] them.” Thus, the LORD will also control Ezekiel’s ability to talk, an additional illustration of His “hold” on the prophet. There is more at stake than the exiles imagine, and it is critical to say the right things at the proper time because of the eternal consequences. A prophet stands in the place of the people and must repeat what the LORD tells him or her, word for word. The previous passage underscored the disastrous ramifications when a prophet fails to discharge his or her duty. So, the LORD, alone must choose the time, place, and message the prophet delivers. While Ezekiel is the divine spokesperson of the hour, only the LORD is capable of supervising the fate of the exiles. Ezekiel agrees with the funeral dirges, words of relentless grief, and pronouncements of doom he must repeat to the rebels; but even Moses understood that God is the only one who can properly pay back sinners for what they have done. Joseph recognized any wrong against another is actually sin against God. In his hands human revenge becomes divine retribution, just what those who offend Him deserve. And What’s more I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth I, the Eternal One will prevent you from forming gue-tied so that with the result you will be speechless you, Ezekiel will be dumbstruck (for your own protection) and as well as unable to rebuke them, powerless to reprimand, or criticize the exiles for they are rebels. Because the exiles oppose my rule.

27 The word “but,” contrasts what will happen when the LORD allows Ezekiel to speak with His purpose for preventing him from speaking in v.26. The linking word “when,” marks those occasions when “I [the LORD] speak with you,” to alert you to danger, as opposed to Ezekiel taking it upon himself to take action. At those times, “I will loosen your tongue” and you won’t have any other option except “you must say to them, This is what the sovereign LORD says.” As a watchman, Ezekiel MUST sound the alarm for the exiles, when God warns him about approaching danger. It doesn’t matter whether the people listen or not. If God tells him to speak, he has no other choice. Some of the exiles will always refuse to listen because “they are a rebellious house [descendants who have strayed from their heritage].” But On the other hand when I speak with you, whenever I, the Eternal One talk to you I will loosen your tongue I, the Eternal One will make it possible for you to speak again and you must say to them, at the same time, you, Ezekiel will have no other choice but to repeat ‘This is what the sovereign LORD says.’ What I say to you Those who listen will listen, Whoever takes notice will respond, but the indifferent will refuse, while whoever doesn’t will not for they are a rebellious house. Because the exiles have apostatized, or backslid, or chosen to go the opposite direction from their ancestor Jacob.

A Tastier CuppaJ Let Jesus pour you a fuller bodied, more flavorful CuppaJ from today’s brew

Well, we hope you enjoyed this morning’s CuppaJ for the Day, brewed verse-by-verse to bring out the full-flavor of the text. Now it’s your turn to explore the passage for yourself––to make this study good to the last drop. Remember, you haven’t really studied the Bible, God’s Written Word––until it connects you with Jesus, God’s Living Word. Then Jesus, the true Teacher can customize the text, so every word comes across written just for you. This morning’s CuppaJ is just a taste of what’s in the text––the starting point for a deeper learning experience with Jesus. So, go ahead; spend time alone with Him to go over this passage together. Let Jesus pour a tastier CuppaJ from the same brew, for you, today. Use the following form to jot down whatever Jesus shares with you. Bible Study

1. Open your Bible to today’s passage and review today’s brew. 2. Savor the passage, one verse at a time, listening for God’s still small voice. 3. Follow the trail you marked in each verse, pause to look up the terms you flagged for further consideration, and write whatever the Spirit brings to mind. v.22 ______. ______v.23 ______v.24 ______v.25 ______v.26 ______v.27 ______