Ezekiel 2:2
And as He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I heard Him speaking to me.
As He spoke to me
This phrase indicates the direct communication from God to Ezekiel. The Hebrew root for "spoke" is דָּבַר (dabar), which implies not just speaking but conveying a message with authority and purpose. In the context of the prophetic tradition, this highlights the divine initiative in revelation. God’s word is active and powerful, initiating transformation and action. Historically, prophets were seen as mouthpieces of God, and this phrase underscores the personal and direct nature of God’s communication with His chosen servants.

the Spirit entered me
The "Spirit" here is the Hebrew רוּחַ (ruach), which can mean breath, wind, or spirit. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God is often associated with empowerment and divine presence. The entering of the Spirit signifies a divine empowerment and anointing for the prophetic task. This is reminiscent of other instances in Scripture where the Spirit comes upon individuals to equip them for God’s work, such as in the lives of the judges and kings of Israel. It emphasizes the necessity of divine enablement for ministry and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

and set me on my feet
This phrase signifies a transition from a position of passivity to one of readiness and action. Being set on one's feet is symbolic of being prepared and equipped to stand in the presence of God and to undertake the mission given. In the ancient Near Eastern context, standing was a posture of respect and readiness to serve. This action by the Spirit indicates that Ezekiel is now ready to receive his commission and act upon it. It reflects the idea that God not only calls but also equips and positions His servants for the tasks He assigns.

and I heard Him speaking to me
The act of hearing in the Hebrew context (שָׁמַע, shama) goes beyond mere auditory reception; it implies understanding and obedience. This phrase indicates that Ezekiel is not only physically hearing God’s words but is also spiritually attuned to comprehend and respond to them. The repetition of the concept of speaking and hearing underscores the importance of communication in the prophetic relationship. It highlights the responsiveness required of God’s servants and the clarity with which God communicates His will to those He calls.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites.

2. The Spirit
Refers to the Spirit of God, who empowers and enables Ezekiel to stand and receive God's message.

3. God
The speaker who communicates His will and message to Ezekiel through the Spirit.

4. Babylonian Exile
The historical context in which Ezekiel receives his prophetic call, a time of judgment and hope for the Israelites.

5. Israelites
The audience of Ezekiel's prophecies, who are in exile due to their disobedience to God.
Teaching Points
Empowerment by the Spirit
Just as the Spirit entered Ezekiel and enabled him to stand and listen, believers today are empowered by the Holy Spirit to understand and act on God's will.

Readiness to Hear God's Voice
Ezekiel's experience teaches us the importance of being spiritually prepared to hear and respond to God's voice in our lives.

Divine Commissioning
God calls and equips His people for specific tasks. We should seek to understand and fulfill our God-given purposes.

Obedience in Difficult Circumstances
Ezekiel's call came during a challenging time for Israel. We are reminded to remain faithful and obedient, even in adversity.

The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit's role in guiding, teaching, and empowering believers is crucial for living a life that honors God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in Ezekiel 2:2 compare to the experiences of the apostles in Acts 2?

2. In what ways can we prepare ourselves to hear and respond to God's voice in our daily lives?

3. Reflect on a time when you felt empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish a task. How did this experience shape your faith?

4. How can we remain obedient to God's call, even when facing difficult circumstances, as Ezekiel did during the Babylonian exile?

5. What are some practical ways we can rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength in our personal and communal lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 2
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, empowering the apostles to speak and act according to God's will, similar to how the Spirit empowers Ezekiel.

Isaiah 6
Isaiah's commissioning as a prophet, where he is also empowered by God's presence to deliver His message.

Jeremiah 1
Jeremiah's call to be a prophet, highlighting the theme of divine empowerment and commissioning.

John 14:26
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to His disciples, who will teach and remind them of His teachings, paralleling the Spirit's role in Ezekiel's life.

Romans 8:11
The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in believers, empowering them for life and service, akin to the Spirit's empowerment of Ezekiel.
God Helping His MinistersEzekiel 2:2
The Power Behind the PreacherEzekiel 2:2
Human Progress a Preparation for the Fuller Knowledge of GodJ. S. Lidgett, M. A.Ezekiel 2:1-2
Optimism and Pessimism; Or, the True Dignity of ManS. Macnaughton, M. A.Ezekiel 2:1-2
Self-PossessionT. G. Selby.Ezekiel 2:1-2
Standing Before GodR. D. Shaw, B. D.Ezekiel 2:1-2
The Assertion of ManhoodJ. Millar, B. D.Ezekiel 2:1-2
The Full Stature of a ManW. W. Battershall, D. D.Ezekiel 2:1-2
The Importance of Self-RespectS. A. Tipple.Ezekiel 2:1-2
The Interlacing of Divine Command and Divine StrengthJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 2:1, 2
The Prophet's CommissionJ. C. Shanks.Ezekiel 2:1-2
An Arduous EmbassageJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 2:2-5
People
Ezekiel, Israelites
Places
Chebar
Topics
Causeth, Ears, Entered, Raised, Spake, Speaking, Spirit, Spoke, Spoken, Stand, Voice
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 2:2

     3120   Holy Spirit, descriptions
     3236   Holy Spirit, and Scripture
     3272   Holy Spirit, in OT

Ezekiel 2:1-7

     7758   preachers, call

Ezekiel 2:2-5

     3224   Holy Spirit, and preaching

Library
Endurance of the World's Censure.
"And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them; neither be afraid of their words, though briars 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."--Ezekiel ii. 6. What is here implied, as the trial of the Prophet Ezekiel, was fulfilled more or less in the case of all the Prophets. They were not Teachers merely, but Confessors. They came not merely to unfold the Law, or to foretell the Gospel,
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Epistle xxxvi. To Maximus, Bishop of Salona .
To Maximus, Bishop of Salona [113] . Gregory to Maximus, &c. When our common son the presbyter Veteranus came to the Roman city, he found me so weak from the pains of gout as to be quite unable to answer thy Fraternity's letters myself. And indeed with regard to the nation of the Sclaves [114] , from which you are in great danger, I am exceedingly afflicted and disturbed. I am afflicted as suffering already in your suffering: I am disturbed, because they have already begun to enter Italy by way
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Epistle Xlv. To Theoctista, Patrician .
To Theoctista, Patrician [153] . Gregory to Theoctista, &c. We ought to give great thanks to Almighty God, that our most pious and most benignant Emperors have near them kinsfolk of their race, whose life and conversation is such as to give us all great joy. Hence too we should continually pray for these our lords, that their life, with that of all who belong to them, may by the protection of heavenly grace be preserved through long and tranquil times. I have to inform you, however, that I have
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

St. Malachy Becomes Bishop of Connor; He Builds the Monastery of iveragh.
16. (10). At that time an episcopal see was vacant,[321] and had long been vacant, because Malachy would not assent: for they had elected him to it.[322] But they persisted, and at length he yielded when their entreaties were enforced by the command of his teacher,[323] together with that of the metropolitan.[324] It was when he was just entering the thirtieth year of his age,[325] that he was consecrated bishop and brought to Connor; for that was the name of the city through ignorance of Irish ecclesiastical
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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