Ezekiel Chapter 2
Showing all 10 verses for Ezekiel Chapter 2.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. "
"He said to me, 'Son of man, stand up on your feet, and I will speak to you.'"
I don't want you flattened forever by whatever has overwhelmed you - awe, grief, fear. There's a moment for falling down, and a moment for getting back up, because I have something for you to do next.
"And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me. "
"As he spoke, the spirit entered me and set me on my feet, so that I could hear what he was saying to me."
When a task feels too big for you, that's often true - and it's fine. The strength to stand and face what's ahead doesn't have to come only from inside you.
"And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. "
"He said to me, 'Son of man, I'm sending you to the people of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been breaking faith with me right up to this very day.'"
I never promise you an easy audience for doing what's right. Sometimes the people closest to you are the hardest to reach - but being honest about that difficulty in advance is a form of respect, not discouragement.
"For they are impudent children and softhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. "
"They are stubborn and hard-hearted. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.'"
You are only responsible for speaking your truth clearly and honestly - not for controlling how others receive it. Let go of the outcome; your job is faithfulness, not persuasion.
"And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. "
"And whether they listen or refuse to listen - because they are a rebellious people - they will at least know that a prophet has been among them."
You will not convince everyone, no matter how right or kind you are, and that's not a failure. Do your part honestly and let people own their own response.
"And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. "
"'And you, son of man, don't be afraid of them or their words, even though you're surrounded by briers and thorns and living among scorpions. Don't be afraid of what they say, and don't be intimidated by how they look at you, even though they are a rebellious people.'"
Courage doesn't mean pretending a hostile environment isn't hostile. It means refusing to let other people's hostility determine what you're willing to say or do.
"And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. "
"You are to speak my words to them, whether they listen or not, because they are extremely rebellious."
Don't let the size of your effort depend on how much appreciation you're getting back. Do the right thing consistently because it's right, not as a transaction for people's approval.
"But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. "
"'But you, son of man, listen to what I'm telling you - don't be rebellious like that rebellious people. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.'"
Before you challenge anyone else's blind spots, be honest about your own capacity for the exact same failing. Practise what you're asking of others first.
"And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; "
"When I looked, a hand was reaching out to me, holding a scroll."
The truest things you have to offer other people usually aren't things you invented yourself - they're things you received. Stay humble about the source of your best wisdom.
"And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. "
"He unrolled it in front of me, and it was written on both sides, full of laments, mourning, and warnings of disaster."
Sometimes the truth you're given to carry is genuinely heavy. Don't feel you have to sugar-coat difficult truths - the weight of hard news, honestly delivered, has its own kind of respect for the people receiving it.