Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 3:12-27. The Spirit of the LORD lifts Ezekiel away and transports him to the exiles at Tel-abib. Ezekiel’s bitterness and anger may indicate his recognition of the difficult task that is ahead of him and his sharing of the LORD’s anger against the sin of Israel. His seven day time of being overwhelmed may be indicative of the seven day period during a priest’s ordination. At the end of seven days, the LORD characterizes Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry as being a watchman. A watchman must cry out, and a watchman must do so faithfully. Ezekiel must speak up to warn the people in exile to repent, and he must do so faithfully. As the LORD begins to give Ezekiel His Word to proclaim, He does so in seemingly strange ways. He silences Ezekiel so that the prophet is mute--except when the prophet has the Word of God to speak. In the same way, pastors today must proclaim only the Word of God, and those who he