Ezekiel 3:1-3 | Are You Eating God’s Word?

Every year, as a part of my daily time alone with the Lord, I use a chronological arrangement of scripture to read through the Bible.

I use this reading format to reinforce my grasp of the historical timeline.

This year I am copying into a journal the verses that intrigue me as I read through each day’s portion.

My reading this week prompted me to copy down the following instructions from the Lord to the prophet Ezekiel:

And 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 that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. [1]

Why is the Lord asking Ezekiel to eat a scroll?

Ezekiel 3:1-3 | Understanding the Context

So, who is Ezekiel?

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the Lord was upon him there. [2]

Based on these opening verses, Ezekiel is a thirty-year-old Jewish priest living as an exile in Babylon, also known as the land of the Chaldeans.

Ezekiel was at the age when trained priests typically began serving in the temple in Jerusalem. (See Numbers 3:7-8 and 4:3)

But this passage implies Ezekiel had already been in exile for five years. (See verse 2 above.)

With no temple to work in, describe the likely emotional state of Ezekiel during this time.

What else happens to Ezekiel in these opening verses?

Ezekiel then describes a fascinating vision. He describes four living creatures, eye-covered sparkling wheels, and a throne of sapphire where the glory of the Lord, in the likeness of a man, sat. (See Ezekiel 1:4-28)

With Ezekiel’s attention fully gained, the Lord assigns him a new career.

And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6[3]

Describe how appealing you think this new career sounded compared to serving as a priest in the temple. (Skim Numbers 3-4 for examples of job tasks assigned to the various clans of the Levites.)

What purpose is behind this assignment according to verse five?

The Lord continues to describe what Ezekiel will face in this new assignment.

And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house. [4]

What challenges will Ezekiel face in this role as a prophet?

Do you think Ezekiel found anything encouraging in these verses? Why or why not?

Now consider the next set of instructions Ezekiel received.

“But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. [5]

Identify the instructions from verse eight.

Describe the contents of the object given to Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 3:1-3 | Ezekiel’s Immediate Response

After a second command to eat the scroll and speak to Israel, we learn Ezekiel’s immediate response.

And 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 that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. [6]

Why do you think Ezekiel was obedient to the Lord’s instructions?

How is the eating of the Lord’s scroll intended to prepare Ezekiel for this career change?

Given the contents of the scroll, why does Ezekiel say it tasted as sweet as honey? (See Psalm 19:7-11 and 119:97-104)

Ezekiel 3:1-3 | Are You Eating God’s Word?

Ezekiel had trained to be a priest at the temple in Jerusalem but became an exile in Babylon at twenty-five. Five years later, the Lord sends a dramatic vision to Ezekiel, along with a call to be a prophet to the Israelite exiles. The Lord then instructs Ezekiel to eat a scroll of lamentations, mournings, and woes to prepare him for this new career.

Think about how important it is for us to feed our physical bodies.

When we cannot eat, our physical bodies fail.

Spiritually, it is the same.

We need a steady diet of the Lord’s words to fuel us for the calling He has given us.

But if our time in the Lord’s word does not garner our full attention and obedience, our ministry to those around us will lack the power and stamina the Lord intends.

My reading through the Bible every year in a chronological format is not just about reinforcing my grasp of the biblical timeline.  

Nor is it about simply getting through a particular reading goal.

The ultimate reason I read scripture daily is to be transformed by the Lord’s Holy presence in my daily life.

Do you read scripture daily? Why or why not?

Other than reading through the Bible in one year, what other methods are available that can help you eat God’s word daily?

Why did I choose a picture of sliced bread for this post?

Share your response in the comments below to inspire others to develop their own daily scripture practice.

 Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
       for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts. [7]

Blessings,

Barbara Lynn


[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 3:1–3.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 1:1–3.

[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 2:3–6.

[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 2:6–7.

[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 2:8–10.

[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 3:1–3.

[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Je 15:16.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *