“He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll and fill your stomach with it.’ Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.
“And he said to me, ‘Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel… But [they] will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because [they] have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. [A]ll my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them… whether they hear or refuse to hear…’
“[Then] the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the Lord being strong upon me. And I came to the exiles, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling… overwhelmed among them…
“And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.'” Ezekiel 3:1-5,7-11,14-17
In order to pronounce truth, we must know it. We must open mouth, take it in, and digest it. We must receive God’s warnings and promises and revelations of who He is and how He works, into heart and mind. Sometimes we have to wait for comprehension and specific direction. We must have ears that listen and thoughts that absorb and hands and feet willing to apply and adorn His word.
Why is it that some of the loudest people voice opinions from ignorance or vitriol? Why is it that those transformed by biblical truth are often timid and hide it away? Entrusted and changed by life-giving words, we must go and speak, obedient to the One who convicts and commands, not inhibited by those who complain or condemn.
How faithful am I to sow God’s word into my conversations? To listen for specific needs and respond in kind with provision God offers? To share biblical insights on world and personal events? Am I taking time to ingest his Word and praying through it to have discernment and discretion? No good watchman is not alert or unwilling to act. How would I rank?
Lord, connect all my synapses to hear, study, and understand your word. Honor and enable my resolution to give it out appropriately with boldness and joy. Keep me diligent in my responsibility no matter the response, trusting You with every result.
As the rain and snow 