Daily Devotions
Ezekiel
"I will open your mouth"
Text: Ezekiel 3:27
GREAT CONTROL BY THE SPIRIT
Ezekiel had a strong human spirit and was capable of feeling bitterness (Ezekiel 2:14). The hand of the LORD had to be exercised strongly to control the prophet. We see the extent of God’s control of Ezekiel as His servant.
“I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth,
so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them,
for they are a rebellious house.
But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth,
and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’
He who hears, let him hear;
and he who refuses, let him refuse;
for they are a rebellious house.”
Ezekiel 3:26-27
1. The continuing work of the Spirit of God.
a) The context informs us that this action is of the Holy Spirit.
b) He will be the One who will restrain Ezekiel.
c) He will also be the One who would cause him to speak.
2. The Spirit of God would cause Ezekiel to be silent.
a) Ezekiel’s natural response would have been to rebuke his aggressors.
b) They were truly rebellious, even in Babylon.
c) The Spirit of God will do the following:
i) He will be unable to speak.
ii) His tongue would “cling to the roof of (his) mouth”.
iii) He would be like a mute.
3. The Spirit of God would cause Ezekiel to speak.
a) The Spirit would first speak to Ezekiel.
b) Then He would cause Ezekiel to restore his ability to speak.
4. Ezekiel as a prophet of God.
a) He must say “Thus says the Lord GOD”.
b) His message must be from the LORD and not his personal opinion.
c) This was a needful lesson for Ezekiel and all servants of God to learn.
d) They must learn to proclaim only God’s Word.
5. Responsibility is on the hearers.
a) There will be some who will hear.
“He who hears, let him hear”
b) There will also be those who would refuse to hear.
“And he who refuses, let him refuse”
6. A rebellious house.
a) The word rebellious/ rebellion was stated again and again.
b) It was first mentioned in Ezekiel 2:3.
c) It was repeated in Ezekiel 2: 6, 7, 8.
d) It was repeated once again (Ezekiel 3:27).