Reflections on Ezekiel:
Eat. Love. Hope.
The dramatic Book of Ezekiel captures the creative side of God that I have come to love in the parables that Jesus told. Written by the prophet Ezekiel himself, we see God’s message delivered to His people through pantomime and great imagery. Though I was not able to attend all the recent talks on Ezekiel, here are just some unforgettable scenes as I try my best to understand God’s covenant – His commitment to His people.
Eat this scroll
“Son of man, eat what is given you. Eat this scroll and then go; speak to the people of Israel.” I open my mouth and he made me eat the scroll; and then he said to me, “Eat and fill yourself with this scroll that I’m giving to you.” I ate it; and it tasted as sweet as honey. ~ Ezekiel 3:1-3
Did Ezekiel really eat the scroll? This notion of eating a scroll and speaking its contents reminds me of our evangelization mission to speak God’s Word to those who do not know God or who have turned their backs on God. How easy it is for us to share about delicious food but so difficult to spill the beans on the Good News. If we come to church each Sunday to eat His Word, how often do we engage others in conversation, to get to know them and share with them God’s love?
A New Heart
“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26
During a recent Cinema Divina workshop at church, the wife of the unbeliever Mike Vogel prayed these words of Ezekiel fervently (Movie: The Case for Christ). This is a verse that is now etched as a prayer that I can say for friends who do not believe in God.
God promises that even ‘dry bones will live again’ (Ezekiel 37:11-12). There is always Hope.
Actions of Gloom, Words of Hope
Ezekiel whose tongue was stuck to his palate and unable to speak for a while, had to relay God’s message through performances which like parables cut deeper when our eyes are opened. Spoilers ahead.
“Lie on your left side, taking upon yourself the sin of Israel, for you will bear their sin as long as you are lying on it. I have assigned to you a number of days equal to the duration of their sins – for a hundred and ninety days you will bear the sin of Israel. When you have completed this you shall lie on your right side and bear the sin of Judah for forty days…” Ezekiel 4:4-7
Ezekiel is asked to enact the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians where the people will suffer as food and water will be in short supply and many would perish because of their sins.
“… gathering my things by day, an exile’s baggage, and in the evening, I made a hole in the wall with my hand. I left in the dark, in their presence, shouldering my baggage.” Ezekiel 12:7
As the people watched, Ezekiel packs his bags and leaves the city through a hole he made in the wall. He is performing what was going to happen – the people would be deported, exiled from Jerusalem.
But God assures us in chapter 34 that He will rescue his flock and do away with injustices, as there are false prophets who feed themselves and not His people.
“I, myself, will tend my sheep and let them rest… I will search for the lost and lead back the strays, I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak… I will shepherd my flock with justice.” Ezekiel 34:11-16
Today, when we suffer, grieve and feel loss, we may ask where is God in all this chaos? He is there and will shepherd us through our darkness. Ezekiel speaks of God’s Covenant of peace with us. We are the ones who need to respond to His call.
Written by Karen R-Fong
PS. My fellow participants may say – Karen, don’t forget Personal Responsibility. We should not blame our past generations for our sufferings today. You make your own bed.