Title: Ezekiel’s Redemptive History (5) Mute
We learned that Ezekiel was ordered to lie down for 390 days on his left (north) side and 40 days on his right (south) side.
God gave Ezekiel a few specific rules to go by
- With him arm bared (Ezekiel 4:7)
In Hebrew bared means to roll up the sleeves to be ready for fight. God ordered Ezekiel to lie down in a figure that he is about to fight which means God is about to fight against Israel, thus the destruction of Israel is inevitable. So, they must quickly repent and not challenge against God (Isaiah 52:10).
Who can win against God?
- With his body bound with ropes (Ezekiel 4:8)
It foreshow that the people of Israel will be brought to Babylon bound by ropes and chains (2 Kings 25:7).
It teaches Ezekiel that he should always be bound with the Word of God.
God was teaching Ezekiel that in the remainder of his life, he should live bound with the Word of God. And when living bound with the Word of God, receiving mockery from people around is inevitable, just like Noah. Therefore, we should live bound by the Word of God and overcome these mockeries by faith because Jesus also was bound by the Word of God while He was living on the earth (John 12:50).
- Look only at the designated side (Ezekiel 4:8)
For 390 days, Ezekiel should look at the left side and cannot see the other side. Vice versa, for the next 40 days, he should only look at the right side.
We also have to look at the side God designated for us, the kingdom of God. We should not turn to the side of this world (Hebrews 12:2).
Ezekiel was muted during this ministry of 22 years. He was muted for 7 years and 6 months.
Beginning point:
12th day of the 4th month in 593 BC (5th year from the exile) (Ezekiel 1:1-2; Ezekiel 3:16; Ezekiel 3:26)
Ending point:
5th day of the 10th month in 585BC (12th year from the exile) (Ezekiel 33:21-22)
What is the reason God muted Ezekiel for 7 years and 6 months?
- He should only speak the Word of God
Although we calculated that Ezekiel was muted for 7 years and 6 months, it doesn’t mean that during the entire period, he wasn’t able to speak. When God needed Ezekiel to deliver the Word of God, God allowed Ezekiel to speak but when it is done, God made him mute again (Ezekiel 6:1-2; 12:10; 12:23).
- It was not to give a chance for the rebellious generation to repent (Ephesians 5:13)
During the time of Ezekiel, the people were so corrupted and rebellious. God was saying to them that Jerusalem will be destroyed. The people of Israel find in the bible why it would not be when Ezekiel tried to deliver the word of God. Therefore God muted him so that there will be no more argument, no more debate or fight. The condition of the people of Israel is that they rather fight against God. Therefore God stopped giving them warnings and rebukes.
- However, when there was a chosen man, God opened Ezekiel’s mouth
Generally, the people of Israel were corrupted and rebellious. However, when there were a few people who repented before God genuinely, God opened the mouth of Ezekiel and delivered the Word of God (Ezekiel 3:27).
Conclusion
All things will be accomplished as God spoken
Ezekiel became mute for 7 years and 6 months. However, 3 years before the time was up, God informed Ezekiel that his mute will be removed.
Ezekiel 24:1And the word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth of the month, saying,
Ezekiel 24:25-27 ‘As for you, son of man, will it not be on the day when I take from them their stronghold, the joy of their pride, the desire of their eyes and their heart’s delight, their sons and their daughters, 26 that on that day he who escapes will come to you with information for your ears? 27 On that day your mouth will be opened to him who escaped, and you will speak and be mute no longer. Thus you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.’
When Ezekiel became muted and bound with rope and laid down for 430 days, the people of this world accused him and said Ezekiel was punished because he was wrong. But when the time comes, God reveals His plan and His will so that Ezekiel’s faith and himself was proved right.
Joshua 23:14 “Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 