Lessons from strange actions
Text Ezekiel 3:21-5:17 Time 07 05 06 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
I want to speak to you this morning on several things. My two main subjects are commitment and the judgement. First then commitment for believers – commitment to Christ, devotion to the Lord’s work. How dedicated are we? How committed? Is any Christian here willing to raise his hand and say ‘Yes, I’m committed enough. There can be no question mark over my zeal and enthusiasm’? No. It is a subject we need to keep coming back to.
Then I want to speak also, and this time to every one of us whoever we are, about the judgement. As you know, there is going to be a judgement for this world one day. Even now God is judging every one of us. It is easy to let such things slip out of our thinking. We must not.
Now the things I want to teach you this morning come again from the Book of Ezekiel and the way that they are taught is really quite unusual and striking. Ezekiel, of course, was an Old Testament prophet. He lived during the days of exile in Babylon when he and others had been carried off from their homeland and from all that was dear to them. Ezekiel felt things particularly acutely when he reached his thirtieth year. Under other circumstances it would have been at that age that he would have begun his duties in the Temple in Jerusalem as a priest. Exiled in Babylon that wasn’t going to happen.
Then I want to speak also, and this time to every one of us whoever we are, about the judgement. As you know, there is going to be a judgement for this world one day. Even now God is judging every one of us. It is easy to let such things slip out of our thinking. We must not.
Now the things I want to teach you this morning come again from the Book of Ezekiel and the way that they are taught is really quite unusual and striking. Ezekiel, of course, was an Old Testament prophet. He lived during the days of exile in Babylon when he and others had been carried off from their homeland and from all that was dear to them. Ezekiel felt things particularly acutely when he reached his thirtieth year. Under other circumstances it would have been at that age that he would have begun his duties in the Temple in Jerusalem as a priest. Exiled in Babylon that wasn’t going to happen.
But then something even more wonderful happened – God, as it were, brought the Temple to him and he has this amazing version, which we find in Chapter 1. At that time God commissioned Ezekiel as a prophet. He is warned that the people will not listen to him but he is to go on prophesying anyway.
All this leaves him angry and overwhelmed. Then a week later God speaks to him again and he is told that he will be like a watchman to warn the Israelites. We looked at that last week (3:16-21).
In 3:22 we are told that The hand of the LORD was upon Ezekiel again and he was told to go out to the plain again. There, once again, he sees the glorious vision of the LORD that he had seen a week before. On this occasion he is told to do various strange things that are what we might call ‘Action prophecies’ or ‘Dramatic prophecies’. Like visual aids these acted parables were designed to teach the people truths in striking and different ways. Some assume these were visions and were never acted out. It is more likely that they were acted out but only while Ezekiel was in the public eye. For example, he did lay on his side day by day but not for 24 hours of each day. He also probably ate other food while in private.
We can speak of three different actions here, although they are all linked together. The first action speaks of the importance of commitment and the other two bring before us the matter of judgement. What I want to do this morning then is to consider three things. First, these strange actions that Ezekiel is told to perform and what that suggests about God’s expectations from his servants. Then we need to say something about the differences between how it was in Ezekiel’s day and how it is on ours. Finally, we want to draw out the direct lessons on commitment and the judgement that are contained in Ezekiel’s dramatic acts.
In 3:22 we are told that The hand of the LORD was upon Ezekiel again and he was told to go out to the plain again. There, once again, he sees the glorious vision of the LORD that he had seen a week before. On this occasion he is told to do various strange things that are what we might call ‘Action prophecies’ or ‘Dramatic prophecies’. Like visual aids these acted parables were designed to teach the people truths in striking and different ways. Some assume these were visions and were never acted out. It is more likely that they were acted out but only while Ezekiel was in the public eye. For example, he did lay on his side day by day but not for 24 hours of each day. He also probably ate other food while in private.
We can speak of three different actions here, although they are all linked together. The first action speaks of the importance of commitment and the other two bring before us the matter of judgement. What I want to do this morning then is to consider three things. First, these strange actions that Ezekiel is told to perform and what that suggests about God’s expectations from his servants. Then we need to say something about the differences between how it was in Ezekiel’s day and how it is on ours. Finally, we want to draw out the direct lessons on commitment and the judgement that are contained in Ezekiel’s dramatic acts.
1. Consider Ezekiel’s strange actions and reflect on what God may expect from his servants
1. Consider Ezekiel's being tied down in seclusion and learn how at times God expects what is unusual
In 3:21ff Ezekiel is told to do four things
1 Shut himself inside his house and not go out. 3:24b Go, shut yourself inside your house. All his public appearances were to be only as God’s spokesman.
2 Allow himself to be tied up with ropes. 3:25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. When people did catch a glimpse of Ezekiel then he would often be tied up.
3 Remain silent for most of the time. 3:26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house. This may have been imposed and not a voluntary thing. At times Ezekiel would not be able to speak.
4. Speak only when God speaks through him. 3:27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, This is what the Sovereign LORD says. When he spoke in public he would speak God’s Words. This probably went on for about seven and a half years altogether.
Now this was a very odd way for a man to act. We will reflect on the meaning of it all in a moment. First, let’s remind ourselves that although many things have changed since Ezekiel’s day God still at times expects unusual things from his servants. So, for example, the Lord may lead you to live in a different country to the one your grew up in. He may lead you to make decisions that many people will regard as odd because they are less lucrative financially. You may make decisions about your home life or how you bring up your children – say, having no TV or physically punishing them at times – and that will be thought unusual. We are all different and some find being unusual easier than others who simply want to fit in, but if we are believers then we will find that at some point or another we will be taking unusual paths and making unusual decisions.
2. Consider his lying down, his visual aid and his diet and learn how at times God expects what is difficult
Again there are a number of elements to note. He was to
1 Make a visual aid depicting Jerusalem from clay. 4:1 Now, son of man, take a clay tablet, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it.
2. Lay siege to it. 4:2 Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering-rams around it.
3 Put an iron pan between him and the model as he lays siege. 4:3, 4 Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face towards it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.
4. Lie on his side bearing sin for 430 days. 4:4-6 Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel. After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.
5 Again allow himself to be tied with ropes. 4:7, 8 Turn your face towards the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
6 Follow a new starvation diet. 4:9-12 Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. Weigh out twenty shekels {8 ozs/0.2 kg} of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. Also measure out a sixth of a hin {1 pint/0.6 litre} of water and drink it at set times. Eat the food as you would a barley cake; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel. Ezekiel understandably objects to this last element and is told he can use cow manure instead.
Again it is all very odd and pretty demanding. It is a reminder that sometimes God asks his servants to do difficult things. The most difficult thing he demands perhaps is to die for him. Many have made that sacrifice. Many others suffer for the sake of their devotion to him in other different ways. Sometimes we are simply called upon to do things we find difficult – to give up a friendship perhaps, to go without in some way, to make some sacrifice. We must be willing to do whatever God demands.
The way God modifies his request here is a reminder of his grace and kindness. He does not demand from us more than we can give.
3. Consider his special haircut and what followed and learn how at times God expects what is striking
1 Make a visual aid depicting Jerusalem from clay. 4:1 Now, son of man, take a clay tablet, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it.
2. Lay siege to it. 4:2 Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering-rams around it.
3 Put an iron pan between him and the model as he lays siege. 4:3, 4 Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face towards it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.
4. Lie on his side bearing sin for 430 days. 4:4-6 Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel. After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.
5 Again allow himself to be tied with ropes. 4:7, 8 Turn your face towards the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
6 Follow a new starvation diet. 4:9-12 Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. Weigh out twenty shekels {8 ozs/0.2 kg} of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. Also measure out a sixth of a hin {1 pint/0.6 litre} of water and drink it at set times. Eat the food as you would a barley cake; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel. Ezekiel understandably objects to this last element and is told he can use cow manure instead.
Again it is all very odd and pretty demanding. It is a reminder that sometimes God asks his servants to do difficult things. The most difficult thing he demands perhaps is to die for him. Many have made that sacrifice. Many others suffer for the sake of their devotion to him in other different ways. Sometimes we are simply called upon to do things we find difficult – to give up a friendship perhaps, to go without in some way, to make some sacrifice. We must be willing to do whatever God demands.
The way God modifies his request here is a reminder of his grace and kindness. He does not demand from us more than we can give.
3. Consider his special haircut and what followed and learn how at times God expects what is striking
The other thing Ezekiel was require to do was to take a haircut and do something with the hair. He was to
1 Cut his hair and divide it by weight. 5:1 Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber's razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair.
2 Do different things to the different piles of hair. 5:2 When the days of your siege come to an end, burn a third of the hair with fire inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind. For I will pursue them with drawn sword.
3 Save a few strands. 5:3, 4 But take a few strands of hair and tuck them away in the folds of your garment. Again, take a few of these and throw them into the fire and burn them up. A fire will spread from there to the whole house of Israel.
Again another symbolic act. This time it is not particularly difficult though it is unusual. Like the other actions it would have been very striking for anyone who saw Ezekiel. Sometimes God expects us to do striking things. It is not the norm. Most of the time there will be nothing very remarkable about us – at least as far as the world is concerned. However, there are times when something striking is required. Think of some of the great sermons that have been preached in the open air. A famous one took place when the Welsh preacher John Elias went to the Sunday Market in Rhuddlan in North Wales and preached against it so that it was closed down for years and years to come. Some people are not won over until something very striking is said to them. We ought to give some thought to this.
1 Cut his hair and divide it by weight. 5:1 Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber's razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair.
2 Do different things to the different piles of hair. 5:2 When the days of your siege come to an end, burn a third of the hair with fire inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind. For I will pursue them with drawn sword.
3 Save a few strands. 5:3, 4 But take a few strands of hair and tuck them away in the folds of your garment. Again, take a few of these and throw them into the fire and burn them up. A fire will spread from there to the whole house of Israel.
Again another symbolic act. This time it is not particularly difficult though it is unusual. Like the other actions it would have been very striking for anyone who saw Ezekiel. Sometimes God expects us to do striking things. It is not the norm. Most of the time there will be nothing very remarkable about us – at least as far as the world is concerned. However, there are times when something striking is required. Think of some of the great sermons that have been preached in the open air. A famous one took place when the Welsh preacher John Elias went to the Sunday Market in Rhuddlan in North Wales and preached against it so that it was closed down for years and years to come. Some people are not won over until something very striking is said to them. We ought to give some thought to this.
2. Consider Ezekiel’s strange actions and recognise how certain things have changed since then
Having said all this it is important to remember that certain things have changed since Ezekiel's day
1. There are no more prophets though there is the Bible and preaching
The day of the Old Testament and New Testament prophet is over. The canon is complete. Now we have the Bible and it is to be preached.
2. There is no more Judah and Israel though there is the church
2. There is no more Judah and Israel though there is the church
That period is over. The Jews must still hear as must all but now the gospel is going out into all the world.
3. There is no longer a Temple in Jerusalem though there is the Spirit and heaven
3. There is no longer a Temple in Jerusalem though there is the Spirit and heaven
Again that period is over. God has now poured out the Spirit and we may worship in every place.
4. There is no more symbolism of the sort here though the lessons still stand
4. There is no more symbolism of the sort here though the lessons still stand
Such thoughts should temper our thinking about such things, therefore. Nevertheless we can learn lessons from Ezekiel and his actions.
3. Consider Ezekiel’s strange actions and learn lessons from them for today
1. Learn about commitment to God’s work
The first acted parable has something to teach us about Christian commitment.
Thankfully we are not under such a regime but it would be good for us to think about it and imagine what it must have been like. It is too easy to be gadding about here, there and everywhere and never speaking a word for Jesus. We can so enjoy our Christian freedom that we abuse it and do nothing for the cause of Christ. When did you last speak to anyone about their danger, about their sin? Ask the Lord to give you words to speak.
1 Just as Ezekiel spent a lot of time in seclusion so we must learn to be willing to do the same sort of thing – not to the same extent as Ezekiel but there must be that closing of the door in order to pray that Jesus speaks about. 3:24b Go, shut yourself inside your house and pray.
2 Ezekiel literally allowed himself to be tied up with ropes. We also must allow ourselves to be tied down – tied to the meetings here on Sundays and Wednesdays. Get tied into Christian commitments and activities that will keep you from other things.
3 Ezekiel was to remain silent for most of the time and speak only when God spoke through him.. Again we will not want to follow the letter of this but we ought to be thinking each time we speak about what we can say for the Lord and to his glory. Are we?
2. Learn about God’s acts of judgement
1 Just as Ezekiel spent a lot of time in seclusion so we must learn to be willing to do the same sort of thing – not to the same extent as Ezekiel but there must be that closing of the door in order to pray that Jesus speaks about. 3:24b Go, shut yourself inside your house and pray.
2 Ezekiel literally allowed himself to be tied up with ropes. We also must allow ourselves to be tied down – tied to the meetings here on Sundays and Wednesdays. Get tied into Christian commitments and activities that will keep you from other things.
3 Ezekiel was to remain silent for most of the time and speak only when God spoke through him.. Again we will not want to follow the letter of this but we ought to be thinking each time we speak about what we can say for the Lord and to his glory. Are we?
2. Learn about God’s acts of judgement
The details of the other two acts relate most directly to the siege of Jerusalem that followed an attempted rebellion against the Babylonians some years after the initial fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar. The siege is portrayed and the frying pan is used to depict God’s face being hidden from the people. In 4:13 God comments on the diet In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them. He also says (16, 17) Son of man, I will cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of their sin.
The 390 and 40 days are not entirely clear but probably relate to the years of decline and siege involved in the exiling of the people for their sins. The one ray of hope here is Ezekiel bearing those sins upon him. The cutting of the hair and its distribution speaks plainly of the death by famine, plague and sword that so many would know. The ray of hope here is the tufts hidden in the folds of Ezekiel’s garments symbolising a faithful remnant. For us there are several lessons about judgement here.
1 Who is the judge? God himself. 5:8 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations. Fear God.
2 What is judgement? 5:11 I myself will withdraw my favour; I will not look on you with pity or spare you. That is a clear definition. Hell involves the withdrawal of God's felt presence.
3 What sins merit God’s judgements? 5:6, 7 Yet in her wickedness she has rebelled against my laws and decrees more than the nations and countries around her. She has rejected my laws and has not followed my decrees. Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: You have been more unruly than the nations around you and have not followed my decrees or kept my laws. You have not even conformed to the standards of the nations around you. He expects more from his own. 11 … you have defiled my sanctuary with all your vile images and detestable practices, … Perhaps their greatest sin was their trusting in Jerusalem. Trust in the Lord not in church, in your religion, etc.
4 What does God aim at in his judgements? The vindication of his name. 5:13 Then my anger will cease and my wrath against them will subside, and I will be avenged. And when I have spent my wrath upon them, they will know that I the LORD have spoken in my zeal.
5 Is there any hope in the face of God’s judgements? Think of Ezekiel bearing the sins and think of the tufts of hair hidden in his belt. Christ bears sin in the pace of sinners. Go to him. There is always a remnant - those who by grace believe.
The 390 and 40 days are not entirely clear but probably relate to the years of decline and siege involved in the exiling of the people for their sins. The one ray of hope here is Ezekiel bearing those sins upon him. The cutting of the hair and its distribution speaks plainly of the death by famine, plague and sword that so many would know. The ray of hope here is the tufts hidden in the folds of Ezekiel’s garments symbolising a faithful remnant. For us there are several lessons about judgement here.
1 Who is the judge? God himself. 5:8 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations. Fear God.
2 What is judgement? 5:11 I myself will withdraw my favour; I will not look on you with pity or spare you. That is a clear definition. Hell involves the withdrawal of God's felt presence.
3 What sins merit God’s judgements? 5:6, 7 Yet in her wickedness she has rebelled against my laws and decrees more than the nations and countries around her. She has rejected my laws and has not followed my decrees. Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: You have been more unruly than the nations around you and have not followed my decrees or kept my laws. You have not even conformed to the standards of the nations around you. He expects more from his own. 11 … you have defiled my sanctuary with all your vile images and detestable practices, … Perhaps their greatest sin was their trusting in Jerusalem. Trust in the Lord not in church, in your religion, etc.
4 What does God aim at in his judgements? The vindication of his name. 5:13 Then my anger will cease and my wrath against them will subside, and I will be avenged. And when I have spent my wrath upon them, they will know that I the LORD have spoken in my zeal.
5 Is there any hope in the face of God’s judgements? Think of Ezekiel bearing the sins and think of the tufts of hair hidden in his belt. Christ bears sin in the pace of sinners. Go to him. There is always a remnant - those who by grace believe.
3:27 Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house. Jesus often echoed these words when he said He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Have you been listening to what I’ve said this morning? Then take it to heart and act upon it. You know you are a sinner, you know the danger of hell. Flee! Run to Christ! And if you refuse to listen then be aware of this - I am free from guilt. I have told you as plainly as I know how. You are a doomed sinner unless you turn from your sin to Jesus Christ. Turn! Turn! Why will you die? Turn before it is too late. Hebrews 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
