Ezekiel 2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Oh Friends, that’s the Lord speaking to Ezekiel when he appointed him prophet to Israel. It sounds rough; talk of briers, thorns and scorpions, but if it’s the Lord’s bidding, then there’s nothing to be really afraid of. Ezekiel was so overawed though by the spectacle the Lord put on, when He came calling , that he fell flat on his face. The whirlwind, the cloud, the fire, the four beasts that resembled men; each with four faces – man, lion, ox,eagle – each with four wings and four hands, all joined together by the wings, running up and down creating flashes of lightning, making noises like a great wash of water with their wings, and then a voice from the heavens and the appearance of a sapphire like throne with the likeness of a man sitting on it, surrounded by fire and shining brightly like a rainbow. Wow! No wonder Ezekiel fell down! Then he heard this voice that said; ‘Son of man stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And the spirit entered into me when he spoke unto me, and set me upon my feet…’ (vs.1-2) And the Lord gave him the good news; (smile) he was to speak on the Lord’s behalf to the rebellious, stiff-necked Israelites, who, whether or not they listened, would know that a prophet was now in their midst. No doubt Ezekiel was leary of the sudden elevation to the role of prophet. But the Lord assured him: ‘be not afraid of them, neither of their words.’ He said the same to Jeremiah when he complained that he could not speak cause he was only a child. ‘Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord.’ (Jer.1:8) Later on, when Jeremiah was still hesitant, the Lord warned him; ‘ therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee; be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.’ Mama Mia! The Lord laid down the law to him in no uncertain terms. Friends, that’s what happens when our God tells us to do something and we don’t comply. Shortly after though, He told Jeremiah that He had set him up like a strong city, a pillar of iron, brasen walls, and they’d fight against him unsuccessfully, ‘for I am with thee, saith the Lord to deliver thee.’ (Jer.1:18-19) Yes people, that’s the way our Lord operates; always gives us the parts to do what He asks. He told Ezekiel not to worry about the apparent negatives. But how could he not, when ‘the best of them is a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge.’ (Mic.7:4) If that’s the best, imagine the worst; and the Lord adds scorpions. But Friends, though the odds seem insurmountable, fear not, cause the Lord is in control. As He later told Ezekiel, ‘for I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant harder than flint, I have made thy forehead.’ (vs.9) Wow! What a most excellent God! People, it’s not easy, but nothing worthwhile in this life is easy. Besides, ‘the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers….And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good…if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.’ (1 Pet.3:12-14). Friends, just look at what Jesus has done for us. From day one, and even now, believers have been persecuted for His sake. The least we can do is suffer a few bumps and bruises in His name. Much LOVE!…unless there’s pain…there’s seldom gain…
Oh Friends, that’s the Lord speaking to Ezekiel when he appointed him prophet to Israel. It sounds rough; talk of briers, thorns and scorpions, but if it’s the Lord’s bidding, then there’s nothing to be really afraid of. Ezekiel was so overawed though by the spectacle the Lord put on, when He came calling , that he fell flat on his face. The whirlwind, the cloud, the fire, the four beasts that resembled men; each with four faces – man, lion, ox,eagle – each with four wings and four hands, all joined together by the wings, running up and down creating flashes of lightning, making noises like a great wash of water with their wings, and then a voice from the heavens and the appearance of a sapphire like throne with the likeness of a man sitting on it, surrounded by fire and shining brightly like a rainbow. Wow! No wonder Ezekiel fell down! Then he heard this voice that said; ‘Son of man stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And the spirit entered into me when he spoke unto me, and set me upon my feet…’ (vs.1-2) And the Lord gave him the good news; (smile) he was to speak on the Lord’s behalf to the rebellious, stiff-necked Israelites, who, whether or not they listened, would know that a prophet was now in their midst. No doubt Ezekiel was leary of the sudden elevation to the role of prophet. But the Lord assured him: ‘be not afraid of them, neither of their words.’ He said the same to Jeremiah when he complained that he could not speak cause he was only a child. ‘Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord.’ (Jer.1:8) Later on, when Jeremiah was still hesitant, the Lord warned him; ‘ therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee; be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.’ Mama Mia! The Lord laid down the law to him in no uncertain terms. Friends, that’s what happens when our God tells us to do something and we don’t comply. Shortly after though, He told Jeremiah that He had set him up like a strong city, a pillar of iron, brasen walls, and they’d fight against him unsuccessfully, ‘for I am with thee, saith the Lord to deliver thee.’ (Jer.1:18-19) Yes people, that’s the way our Lord operates; always gives us the parts to do what He asks. He told Ezekiel not to worry about the apparent negatives. But how could he not, when ‘the best of them is a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge.’ (Mic.7:4) If that’s the best, imagine the worst; and the Lord adds scorpions. But Friends, though the odds seem insurmountable, fear not, cause the Lord is in control. As He later told Ezekiel, ‘for I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant harder than flint, I have made thy forehead.’ (vs.9) Wow! What a most excellent God! People, it’s not easy, but nothing worthwhile in this life is easy. Besides, ‘the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers….And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good…if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.’ (1 Pet.3:12-14). Friends, just look at what Jesus has done for us. From day one, and even now, believers have been persecuted for His sake. The least we can do is suffer a few bumps and bruises in His name. Much LOVE!…unless there’s pain…there’s seldom gain…
SCRIP-BITS 