"Son of man" is translated by the TEV as "mortal man" and the Living Bible as "son of dust"!  If we kept these latter pictures in mind, it would probably be easier for most of us "not to think more highly of (ourselves) than (we) ought to think." (Ro12:3)

"Eat what you find, eat the scroll" (10; 2:8 2:9; 1 Ti4:15; Rev10:9 10:10)

In our society “to eat one's words” is generally a negative unpleasant experience but in biblical thought  it is an agreeable experience. The message was given by God but was to be assimilated by the prophet and made his own. "Here’s God’s point - His Word needs to be digested and consumed. Don’t just nibble – scarf it up, pig out, chow down! There used to be a Lipton ad that portrayed a bold and feisty image. The punch line was, "This ain’t no sip’n tea." Well, this ain’t no sip’n book. The Bible is not a finger food. You’ve got to chew on its message."  (Ref)

"Scroll" is used 23 times in the OT prophetic passages (click here).

"Go, speak to the house of Israel" (11, 15 ,17-21; 2:3)

"The LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to (Jeremiah), "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth." (Jer 1:9) . For Isaiah God had a "seraphim" fly to him "with a burning coal in his hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs. And he touched (Isaiah's) mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is forgiven." And here He had Ezekiel eat a scroll.

"It was sweet as honey": What did it contain? "lamentations, mourning and woe" (2:10) Why then would it be sweet? Although the words were bitter, the scroll tasted sweet because its contents were God’s word, and as discussed above would facilitate the carrying out of will of God which is always pleasing.

David agrees that "The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether." and yet "They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb." (Ps19:9, 10) The psalmist writes "How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Ps119:103)

"Feed your stomach and fill your body" (2:10; Job32:18 32:19; Jer6:11; 20:9; Jn7:38) signifies a complete assimilation of God's Word, not a superficial or simply intellectual reading of it. Only when God’s Word had become a part of Ezekiel's very being would he be able to share it with others. In a similar way, when God’s Word becomes a part of us, we are then equipped and enabled to share the message. Let me ask you a practical question? How do you best assimilate it so that it fills your body? Is not the most practical way to realize this objective memorization of His precious sweet truth? And then "book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." (Joshua 1:8)

"Then I ate it" (Ps119:11; Jn6:53-63) Ezekiel was to be a prophet to a rebellious people who refused to obey God, and so the first thing he was asked to do was obey. In obeying the command to eat, he immediately distinguished himself from the disobedient people to whom he was sent. And in his act of obedience, he discovered the taste of the scroll to be “sweet as honey”. The same scroll that would taste so bitter to the house of Israel, tasted sweet on the prophet’s tongue. There is in every act of obedience a sweet taste. Obedience as such guarantees no freedom from pain, but it does bring the satisfaction of a life being fulfilled.

"and it was sweet as honey" (Ps119:97; Pr2:10 2:11)

Whenever we "eat" God’s word, we experience a sweetness, for God’s words always contain hope. Yes, God’s judgment will come upon the rebellious, but in the midst of wrath He remembers mercy and so His judgment also holds promise for those who repent and return.

Jeremiah during a difficult time (read Jeremiah 15 for the context) said "Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts." (Jer15:16) Job said "I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:12) Food that truly sustains in a time of trial or temptation is the "bread of life". It is in the humbling circumstances of these trials that we come to "understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD." (Dt8:3)

The Lord told the prophet Ezekiel to eat a scroll that contained a message full of "lamentations and mourning and woe" (Ezek. 2:10). Because he was submissive to the Lord and applied the lesson to his own heart first, he could boldly present the message. The messenger of God must fill his heart and mind with the truths of Scripture. Only as he is faithful to apply the Word of God to his own life can he honestly give its nourishing encouragement and exhortation to help others. As believers, we too must digest the truths of the Bible and allow the Spirit of God to make them a part of our lives. Then, filled with God's Word, we can speak effectively to others in need. Before we can serve the Bread of Life to others, we must feast on it ourselves.

"Go" is an important command providing specific instructions to Ezekiel from the One seated upon the chariot like throne. Proverbs says "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps" (Pr 16:9) and clearly at the  inception of his prophetic ministry God is carefully "directing the steps" of Ezekiel, a fact which becomes even more obvious as one comes to the end of this chapter. The prophet Jeremiah understood this important principle declaring "I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself; nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps." (Jer10:23) Watch how Ezekiel responds to the "go" of the LORD. How do you respond when the LORD says "Go"? Or "whoa"?.

and speak with My words to them. (11; 2:3 2:7; Mt10:5 10:6; 15:24; Ac1:8)

"My words" is such a little phrase but it is so important for Ezekiel and every believer in every age to remember. God explains to Jeremiah why it is to be "My words" not the prophet's words: "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?" (Jer 23:29) This is the perfect rhetorical question (ask merely for the effect with no answer expected or needed). Whose words do I speak? Out of my mouth comes the word that fills my heart. Eat (memorize, meditate) His word like honey each day as if your life depended on it (your spiritual vitality does!) and then you will be ready to speak His word to anyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have even though you yourself may be going through a trial.

"Difficult language" is literally "heavy (Hebrew kabed) tongue" denoting speech that is thick or sluggish. Moses used a similar phrase when objecting to the LORD's commissioning him to return to Egypt saying "to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since Thou hast spoken to Thy servant; for I am slow (kabed) of speech and slow (kabed) of tongue." (Exodus 4:10)

 But I have sent you to them who should listen to you; "(If I did, they would listen!)" (TLB), "If I had sent you to such people, their ears would have perked up and they would have listened immediately." (Message). Brenton's English of the Greek Septuagint has "if I had sent thee to such, they would have hearkened to thee."

"to them who should listen to you" Note that most of the other translations give a slightly different meaning then is apparent in the NASB. E.g., the NIV says "Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you."  The point is that Israel was more hardened than the worst of the nations round her. Going to another culture and nation would have been difficult because of the language barrier, the results would have been more rewarding for they would listen to him. It is amazing and sad that those who knew nothing of the One Living God would have been more responsive than those who claimed His Name.

The Amplified translation ("will not listen to you and obey") emphasizes the important link between listening and obeying, which is implicit in the Hebrew (shama') and Greek verbs used to translate "listen". James reinforces the importance of this principle calling on us to be "doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does." (Js1:22, 23, 24, 25)

"The house of Israel will not be willing to listen" Ezekiel’s task did not involve linguistic barriers. Indeed, language barriers can be overcome but the barrier of a hard forehead and a stiff heart is difficult to penetrate. (The prophet) "Samuel (speaking to King Saul after he had spared King Agag the Amalekite) said "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying (shama' = listen in Ezekiel 3) the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey (shama' = listen) is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams, for rebellion (same Hebrew word describing Israel as "rebellious") is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." (1Sam 15:22, 23) And so too He would reject those who were unwilling to listen but remember that because of His eternal, unconditional covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He would preserve a remnant of Israel who did listen, who did obey, and who were made righteous by faith. So the phrase "house of Israel" does no signify ALL of Israel denied Him and His Word, although it does appear that the majority did what was right in their own eyes. Things haven't changed much have they!

The LORD had similarly warned Isaiah not to expect dramatic results from his ministry, commissioning him with the promise to "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.' Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, And their eyes dim, lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed." Then I said, "Lord, how long?" And He answered, "Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, houses are without people, and the land is utterly desolate" (Isaiah 6:9-11)

In a parallel passage in the New Testament Jesus "came to His own (the Jews) and those who were His own did not receive Him." (Jn1:11) As a result of their refusal to receive Jesus as their saving Messiah "He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. "Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you. "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. "Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you." (Mt11:20-24)

"for they are not willing to listen to Me" Jesus also warned His disciples that "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me." (Lu10:16) There is none so deaf as the person who does not want to hear. Israel’s unnatural unresponsiveness would not result from a lack of understanding but from a spiritual barrier, a deliberate refusal.

The point is that Ezekiel is not to "take it personally" when his message is rejected for this was in the "job description" for God's prophets.  The BKC explains that "the people were not prepared to ”listen to“ or respond to Ezekiel because they were not willing to listen to God. Their spiritual deafness was acquired over long years of exposure to and rejection of God’s word given by the prophets. Israel’s response to God in the past was a harbinger of the response Ezekiel could expect."

For example, "the LORD (had) said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them." (1 Sa8:7) Jeremiah had a similar experience declaring that for "...twenty three years the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened (shama' = listen attentively so as to obey) and the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear" the message of His prophets which was "Turn now everyone from his evil way and from the evil of your deeds, and dwell on the land which the LORD has given to you and your forefathers forever and ever...." (Jer25:3 25:4 25:5 cf Jer 44:4 44:5 44:16)

Does this warning to Ezekiel have practical application for God's ambassadors today? In the "job description" of a disciple Jesus forewarned us to not be surprised at resistance and rejection but to "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me." (Jn15:20 21) Have you experienced persecution (for His Name's sake) at work, in your school, even in your own family? If so, dear tried and true saint, listen to Jesus' encouraging words declaring that "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice and be glad (more literally jump for joy), for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets (like Ezekiel, Jeremiah, et al) who were before you."  (Mt5:12, 13, 14)

Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate: (2:4) "All of them are stubborn and defiant." (TEV), "all the people of Israel are stubborn and will not obey" (NCV), "the whole house of Israel is stubborn of brow and obstinate in heart." (NAB), "all the children of Israel have a hard brow and a stiff heart. " (BBE)

BKC explains that "the whole house of Israel (Judah)" "does not imply that every Israelite had rejected God, for Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel were all ministering faithfully. God was referring to all parts of Israel rather than every Israelite. Rebellion had made its way into the royal household, the temple, the courts of justice, and into every city and town in the land. Though individuals here and there were still responding to the Lord, the nation as a whole had turned from Him."

"Stubborn" is actually two Hebrew words which literally mean a "hard forehead" ("stern brows"). The word for “hard” (chazaq) is the same word as the first half of Ezekiel’s name.

Isaiah records a similar description of Israel, declaring that "The look on their faces shows they are guilty of doing wrong. Like the people of Sodom, they are proud of their sin. They don't care who sees it. How terrible it will be for them! They have brought much trouble to themselves." (Int'l Children's Bible, Isa3:9) Jeremiah helps us understand the picture of a "hard forehead" declaring to Israel that "you had a harlot's forehead. You refused to be ashamed" (Jer3:3) later adding that "they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock. They have refused to repent." (Jer 5:3) Sin not only hardens the heart so that sinning becomes easier, but it produces a contemptuous spirit that is so deceived that it even disdains God and His right to judge.

"Behold" (hinneh) calls attention to the text and directs reader to give special attention. Hinneh can be translated Here!, There!, Look!, Now! all of which serve as markers used to enliven a narrative, to change a scene, to emphasize an idea or to call attention to a detail.

God now gives Ezekiel an encouraging word to enable him to minister in such a discouraging setting. God knows when and how to encourage us for as Paul recorded centuries later "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man and God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." (1Cor 10:13) Note that the verse does not say "escape" that  we may be able to "escape" but that we may be able to continue to bear up despite difficulty, suffering or persecution. How does God encourage and undergird Ezekiel?

"I have made your face as hard as their faces" - This pictures resolve, determination and defiance, providing Ezekiel the strength and the ability to stand firm in the evil day. Ezekiel is now steeled to confront his opponents without flinching. The exiles would be a tough "congregation" but Ezekiel would be an even tougher "preacher" for God had made him hard, unyielding, stubborn and defiant. The word for "hard" is the same Hebrew word forming the first part of Ezekiel's name. And so even Ezekiel's name ("God is my strength") implied the Lord's strengthening him for the difficult task. You too as a soldier of the Lord, can be confident that the Lord always prepares and reassures His messengers with the needed equipment. It is interesting that the phrase "set your face" occurs 11 times (click here) in Ezekiel.

Similarly, God encouraged and equipped Jeremiah reminding him "behold, I have made you today as a fortified city (symbol of security & impregnability), and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests and to the people of the land. And they will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD." (Jer1:18 1:19 cf Jer15:20)  In Jeremiah's darkest hours these words would sustain him mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, just as would God's words to Ezekiel. Perhaps today you need to recall God's promise first given to Israel but in principle applicable to you as a child of God -- "Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa41:10)

The prophet Micah asserts that will be able to reveal God's Word of judgment empowered by the Lord, declaring "I am filled with power-- with the Spirit of the LORD-- and with justice and courage to make known to Jacob his rebellious act, even to Israel his sin." (Mic3:8)