Ezekiel 3:7, commentary and pictures

The house of Israel would not listen to the messenger because they would not listen to God, for all the house was impudent and hardhearted in defiant stubbornness. Their refusal to heed the prophet was itself refusal to heed God. The verse was an advance warning to the messenger that rejection by the hearers was certain. That certainty came from their being impudent and hardhearted, stubborn and resistant to warning.

Their certain resistance gave no reason to withhold testimony, and the messenger was still required to speak God's words whether the people would hear or would refuse. He was to deliver God's words whether they listened or not, and to testify whether they listened or refused. God strengthened the prophet to stand firm against that resistance without fear. Workers are taught by the chapter not to seek power and control the work themselves while leaving God out, but to depend entirely on God as the Mighty Worker who alone can manage what belongs to Him. Each is to stand at his post of duty with God as instructor and work in perfect harmony under infinite wisdom, while God needs every agency holding truth in righteousness to act its part, standing in view of the cross to proclaim Christ and the third angel's message with power and glory, giving no glory to human agencies but magnifying the Lord alone.

The verse applies at the present time to those who have set themselves decidedly against the messages of the Lord, and God will deal with His people now as He dealt with them in the past. The same duty rests now on servants who have received light to let it shine and declare truth even when its only effect is to arouse people to evade or resist its claims. The duty applies to warnings sent to people in danger, which must be given whether the hearers accept them or reject them. The chapter serves as a warning to Elder Place to examine his course in light of God's message.

The Scriptures were to be brought before the people, and the camp-meeting at Melrose would have been a fitting time to give this message. But it was withheld because many there did not know their true condition before God, with hearts and minds filled by the enemy with doubt and unbelief and lost in fog.