Chapter 1 – Go where the Holy Spirit leads, and do not turn off of the path. The Spirit comes when we worship deeply. He picks us up.
Chapter 2 – You will be sent to the children of Israel. They are rebellious. Speak what is given to you. It is not up to you whether they receive it or not. However, they will know that they have been in the presence of a prophet.
You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse. Do NOT be rebellious.
v8 “Open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
DO NOT BE AFRAID!!!
Chapter 3 – You cannot be afraid. God repeats it again as from Chapter 2. The Word must be released. Speak the Word. Let the Spirit have the seed to water. Our spoken word is the seed. He give us the seed. We plant it. He waters it.
Do NOT be afraid. NO MATTER what it looks like, DO NOT be AFRAID!!!
v15 Then I came to the CAPTIVES at Tel Abib (“mound of the flood”) and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
Amazingly interesting passage.
1) Captives
2) Tel Abib
3) Sat where they sat
4) Hung out there “astonished”
5) Seven days
He just got this major revelation. Was his astonishment and sitting with them his coming to grips with what God had just told him. Here he knows that God has judged them and calls them rebellious. Now, he sits among them and sees them as God sees them. His eyes have been opened by God. As he watches on the mound, in their midst, it astonishes him. He sits there for 7 days. 7 = completeness and covenant. Was he gearing up to honor a covenant that he made with God?
When God gives us a word, perhaps it is best that we take that word and dwell amongst the “captives” to let the word reach out hearts as God directed in verse 10. Let that word become complete in us before we take it out to the masses.
v25 “And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them.”
The captives always want to make you their captive. Defensiveness to the offense of God is a key trait of rebellion against God.
v26 “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.”
So, God gives warning after warning to speak the word. Do so or you carry their blood on you. But, when they rise up against you, be silent. I will even help you and make you mute. It is not for you to rebuke them once the word has gone out. They are rebellious. They will come after you. Be silent.
v27 “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.”