Hard Headed Prophet

Ezekiel 4:14 - "Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, ...neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth."

PRINCIPALS - "Ezekiel Sent To A Rebellious Nation"

Ezekiel was a boy when he was carried to Babylon in the first exile with King Jehoiachim, around 598BC. In those days, Jeremiah was already prophesying in Jerusalem. Ezekiel began receiving visions from the LORD along the banks of the river Chebar in Babylon. Then God sent him to prophesy to His people for more than twenty years. In the first twenty-four chapters, Ezekiel prophesied the impending judgments of God on Jerusalem and Judah. 

Ezekiel 2:7 - "Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious."

PRINCIPLES - "God Makes His Prophets Hard-headed"

Ezekiel's audience was already in captivity. They did not want to hear from God. But God required Ezekiel to prophesy to them anyway. God warned him, "...the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me." They were "impudent and hardhearted." But God made his face strong against their faces, his forehead strong against their foreheads. "Tell them... whether they will hear ...or forebear."

Ezekiel 3:9 - "As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house."

PROPHECIES - "Watchman, Their Blood Will Be On Your Hands"

Ezekiel sat for seven days studying his captive brethren by the river Chebar. The LORD said, "I have made thee a watchman" over them. "Give them warning from me." 

Ezekiel 3:20 - "When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, ...because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, ...but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, ...also thou hast delivered thy soul."