Ezekiel 3:10 - Listen And Take To Heart The Word Of God.

Eze.3:10: Listen And Take To Heart The Word Of God.

CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word 
Study:  

Ezekiel 3:10 (NIV)  And he said to me, "Son of man, listen 
carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you.  

CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:

Overview
Ezekiel saw the glory of God in a vision (1:1-28), and was told 
to speak God's words to His rebellious people (2:1-9). The 
reluctant Ezekiel ate a scroll containing God's words, and was again 
warned that the Israelites would not listen (3:1-15). Yet Ezekiel was 
to be a watchman, giving warning, and had to speak when God gave 
him a message to convey (vv. 16-27). [The 365-Day Devotional 
Commentary] 

3:4-15 Ezekiel is sent to the exiles. To meet the challenge of a 
difficult ministry, God made Ezekiel as hardened as Israel's heart (3:8). 
The phrase "the Spirit lifted me up" (3:12) should not be understood 
as physical removal, but as an expression for prophetic vision (cf. 
8:3; 11:1, 24). Tel Abib (3:15), whose location is uncertain, was the 
major settlement of the exiles in Babylon. The words "bitterness" and 
"anger" (3:14) suggested Ezekiel's awareness of impending judgment. [New 
Bible Companion] 

SECTION HEADINGS

The Lord Speaks to Ezekiel
Ezekiel's Vision of a Scroll  (2:1-3:15)
Ezekiel's Call and Commission
Warn These People  (3:1-27)

CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.

Psalm 119:11 (KJV)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I 
might not sin against thee.  

Proverbs 19:20 (KJV)  Hear counsel, and receive instruction, 
that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.  

Luke 8:15 (KJV)  But that on the good ground are they, which in 
an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring 
forth fruit with patience.  

COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?

Ezekiel needed to take God's words to heart before preaching 
them to others. God's message must sink deep into your heart and show 
in your actions before you can effectively help others understand 
and apply the gospel. [Life Application SB] 

Ezekiel is the model of an unheralded missionary: a man who 
evangelizes in his own country. Yes, there's a need for foreign 
missionaries. But most Christians are called to minister to people in their 
own society, whose language and customs are familiar. The eager 
20-year-old applying to the mission board for overseas service was asked how 
many people he had witnessed to during the preceding week. His answer 
was, "Well, none." How about the preceding month? Six months? Again, 
the answer was, "No one." The chairman of the interviewing board 
then asked him, "Young man, what makes you think being overseas will 
make you into a missionary, when you do no missionary work at home?" 
[The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

Some job descriptions are complicated, and others are relatively 
simple. To help Ezekiel understand the nature of his ministry, God gave 
him a title belonging to a person whose responsibilities were 
absolutely clear-cut. Ezekiel was to serve as a "watchman." 
This post, though one with heavy responsibilities, required no 
special skills or training. In biblical times the watchman simply stood 
on the city walls and, if any danger approached, raised the alarm 
to warn the city's citizens. They then were responsible to rally to 
the city's defense. 
Oh, I suppose a loud voice might be necessary. And the ability 
to stay awake nights. But beyond that, there wasn't much to the 
watchman's job at all. 
How was Ezekiel to be like a watchman? Well, he was to warn the 
people of Judah of impending doom: to shout about the danger that 
approached. Then it was up to those who heard his cries to heed and deal 
with the danger. As God told Ezekiel, "If you do warn the wicked man 
and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he 
will die for his sin" (v. 19). No one could blame the watchman if the 
citizens, warned about the danger, plugged their ears, rolled over, and 
went back to sleep! 
But the watchman, while his job was easy, carried a heavy 
responsibility. What if danger approached, and the watchman didn't cry out? In 
biblical times that watchman rightly forfeited his life! 
And so the LORD told Ezekiel, if "you do not warn him or speak 
out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, 
that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable 
for his blood" (v. 18). 
Today it's helpful if we think of each Christian's "job 
description" in the same way. It takes no special qualification to serve our 
neighbors as a watchman. No seminary degree is required. Not even mastery 
of Scripture, or great spiritual depth. All that's called for is 
awareness that friends without Christ are in terrible peril--and a voice to 
lift to give them warning. 
We can't guarantee that any individual will respond. But if we 
remain silent, we carry some responsibility for that other's fate. [The 
365-Day Devotional Commentary]