Ezekiel, a prophet in Babylon during the exile of the Israelites, receives a divine calling from God. In this chapter, God speaks to Ezekiel, addressing him as the “son of man,” emphasizing his humanity. God commands Ezekiel to stand on his feet, as He is about to speak to him. The Lord tells Ezekiel that He is sending him to the rebellious and stubborn Israelites, who have turned away from Him.
God warns Ezekiel that the people he will be speaking to are not likely to listen or heed his words because they have been rebellious towards God since ancient times. Despite this, God assures Ezekiel that he should not be afraid of their response or dismayed by their attitude, for He will be with him and give him the words to say.
The chapter ends with God presenting Ezekiel with a scroll, containing words of lamentation, mourning, and woe. God instructs Ezekiel to eat the scroll, symbolizing internalizing the message of judgment he is to deliver to the Israelites. Ezekiel follows God’s command and finds the scroll as sweet as honey in his mouth.