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The Lord commanded Ezekiel to ingest the roll or book, which was nothing more nor less than the Word of the Lord. This was not a physical meal but the eternal, living Word, the Lord Jesus. John 1:14 That Word was to become his companion and guide. We too need to eat, devour the book until it becomes a very positive part of our life. Every Christian should be a student of the Word. The pleasant words of the Word are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. Prov. 16:24 He was to speak the Word of the Lord as it was revealed to him without fear of favor. Again there is a parallel with the experience of John on Patmos. He too was commanded to eat the book, which to his taste had that same sweetness but in the fulfillment of that which was shown him, there was bitterness. Both beheld the judgments of the Lord. Rev. 10:8-11 The prophet Jeremiah also found the Word of the Lord and when he ate it he found that is caused joy and rejoicing to break out in his heart. He also made the great discovery that the name of the LORD God of hosts was called upon His people. Jer. 15:16 Something that many in our day have not discovered because they do not eat the book.
Question. Why do so many today take the positive prophecies pertaining to Israel and not include the negative such as found in Ezekiel, Jeremiah and other prophets. These two prophets spoke harshly to Israel. Has anything changed? Are they any less disobedient to the word today than in the days of these prophets? To accept one, only that which seems positive to the rejection of that which is negative is a disservice to the people of Israel. They must hear the whole Word of the Lord in order to make the right decisions. The Lord is still calling to a nation which continuously disregards Him. 2 Cor. 3:14 As then, so now, they will not hearken for they are impudent and hardhearted. Eze. 3:7
The Lord equipped the prophet in a manner comparable to the task before him. His ability to stand before them with boldness of face and hardness of brow was a gift of the Lord. They would not be able to exceed and conquer the boldness with which he would prophecy among them. Where they hardened their hearts as an adamant stone, (Zech.7:12) the Lord hardened his forehead as an adamant stone that he might be able to resist all their display of rebellion. Eze. 3:9 The Lord also encouraged him not to be disturbed or even frightened by their attitude against the Word of the Lord which he was commissioned to deliver to them. He was well warned and equipped for the extremely difficult task unto which the Lord had called him. Speak My Word which I give you, without fear or favor. Eze. 3:10-11.