And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.
God commanded Ezekiel to stand upon his feet so that He could speak to him and instruct him, giving him a message to listen to and hear. In giving that command He addressed Ezekiel as son of man. The command came after Ezekiel had fallen facedown before the glory of God.
As described in the next verse, the Spirit entered Ezekiel as God spoke and set him on his feet, enabling him to stand and hear God's words. The verse begins Ezekiel's prophetic commission to receive God's word and carry His warning message to rebellious Israel, whether they will listen or refuse. That commission is the pattern for God's workmen still, with every man to stand to his post of duty to act his part for this time, knowing that God is his instructor and trusting everything to Him for the advancement of the work.
No man is able to manage what belongs to the great I AM or to control the work himself, but God in providence prepares a way for the work to be done by human agents under infinite wisdom, so that what looks confused to human sight is governed by wisdom bringing perfect order and harmony as every part works with every other. The verse belongs to chapters that God's workmen are urged to study carefully and humbly alongside Ezekiel 1, as instruction about relying on God as instructor rather than trusting human control and direction. The instruction applies to those who resist the Lord's messages, for God deals with His people as He did in the past and His messengers must still bring His words to them.
The experience is applied personally, with God speaking and His Spirit entering and setting the speaker on his feet. The present commission calls each worker to take his own case before the Lord, examine himself instead of his brother's fancied shortcomings, realize his own weakness and defects of character, be constantly on guard against Satan, and guard his own house and family. It calls him to express confidence in workers struggling in hard places instead of jealously watching fellow workers over their outgoings and incomings, blocking their way and restricting their liberty, knowing that a Watcher measures character and will judge and report everyone who hinders those sent by God to bear mercy to a long-neglected people.
God commanded Ezekiel to stand upon his feet so that He could speak to him and instruct him, giving him a message to listen to and hear. In giving that command He addressed Ezekiel as son of man. The command came after Ezekiel had fallen facedown before the glory of God.
As described in the next verse, the Spirit entered Ezekiel as God spoke and set him on his feet, enabling him to stand and hear God's words. The verse begins Ezekiel's prophetic commission to receive God's word and carry His warning message to rebellious Israel, whether they will listen or refuse. That commission is the pattern for God's workmen still, with every man to stand to his post of duty to act his part for this time, knowing that God is his instructor and trusting everything to Him for the advancement of the work.
No man is able to manage what belongs to the great I AM or to control the work himself, but God in providence prepares a way for the work to be done by human agents under infinite wisdom, so that what looks confused to human sight is governed by wisdom bringing perfect order and harmony as every part works with every other. The verse belongs to chapters that God's workmen are urged to study carefully and humbly alongside Ezekiel 1, as instruction about relying on God as instructor rather than trusting human control and direction. The instruction applies to those who resist the Lord's messages, for God deals with His people as He did in the past and His messengers must still bring His words to them.
The experience is applied personally, with God speaking and His Spirit entering and setting the speaker on his feet. The present commission calls each worker to take his own case before the Lord, examine himself instead of his brother's fancied shortcomings, realize his own weakness and defects of character, be constantly on guard against Satan, and guard his own house and family. It calls him to express confidence in workers struggling in hard places instead of jealously watching fellow workers over their outgoings and incomings, blocking their way and restricting their liberty, knowing that a Watcher measures character and will judge and report everyone who hinders those sent by God to bear mercy to a long-neglected people.