"Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel," Ezekiel 3:1.

(preached at Clogher Valley FPC, which is marking its 50th anniversary and also marking Reformation Sunday.)

I believe that what is depicted here in our text will help us understand the events in Europe during the great Protestant Reformation and within the ranks of the FPC some 50+ years ago in those precious day of the 60's and 70's. 

The often neglected prophecy of Ezekiel has a word for us today. As in nature so in the spiritual realm. There is a returning upon the earth, year after year, the same seasons as we have passed through before. What the people of God are experiencing today is not altogether unique though there may be some differences in our circumstances from those of previous generations. There are those things unique about the times through which we are passing yet there is a broad likeness to former times.

It is for this reason that Romans 15:4 is absolutely true. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

Dear friends, this a day in which we remember the past, and the past holds a picture of our future and provides us with warnings, guidance and hope! Come to our text:

I. HERE IS TEACHING FOR DAYS SUCH AS OURS

In order for this to be true, I must first of all show you that the days of Ezekiel, some 2600 years ago, were very like our days.

1. It was a day of defeat and retreat. 

Look at 1:1. "I was among the captives by the river of Chebar." It was a day of captivity for God's people. It was a state of affairs disputed and rejected by many in Israel, 3:7-10. Is it not so today? Truth is not faced!

2. It was a day in which God's threats of judgment were fulfilled. 

He was to preach to 'captives', 3:11, (BC 595.) How often Isaiah and Jeremiah had warned that this is where their sin was taking them, Isaiah 5:11-13 (BC 760); Jeremiah 20:1-6 (BC 605).

3. The enemy dominated God's people. 

Many lived as if this was not the case, Jeremiah 28:1-17. This was about the same year, 595/6 BC, as Ezekiel was being instructed by the Lord in our text. What defiance and blindness prevailed amongst many!

4. They were banished to a strange land. 

Psalm 137:1-4. Do we not dwell a 'strange land' compared to that in which we of the older generation were brought up? (The time of the CV mission, 1970.) This is what our sin and backsliding have brought upon us!

II. WE CAN TAKE HOPE FOR THE LORD HAS A WORD EVEN IN SUCH A DAY AS THIS

"Go speak unto the house of Israel." What a word Ezekiel had for his day!It was the old unchanged message of ages past. "Thus saith the Lord GOD," 2:4. "Thou shalt speak my words unto them," 2:7. "Open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee," 2:8.

1. This is what was to be in the mouth of the prophet! 

Nothing NEW. "And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe," 2:10. 

2. A difficult message. 

That needs to be preached today! This is coming upon this world. As it was in Noah's day so it it is today. 

3. These hard truths were comforting in the midst of their afflictions! 

Ezekiel frequently mentioned the spared 'remnant', 6:8-10, 11:13-21 (16-20). The Lord will spare His remnant in these last days!

III. PLEASE NOTE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE MAN WHO MINISTERS AMIDST SUCH REBELLION

He is a man who has eaten the roll of God's Word. Verses 2-4.

1. God's man has an intimate knowledge of God's Word. 

He ate the Word of God. Not a mere taste, a lick but an eating and digesting of it. It was part of him.

2. He needed God's help to eat the roll. 

The Hebrew word translated 'caused caused me to eat' means 'to devour'. As an animal eats! Life depends upon it. (Animals quickly devour prey for fear of attack, birds at feeders devour seeds etc with great haste.)

3. Only then was he to speak.

 "And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them," verse 4. Except a man has had this experience what comes out of his mouth falls far short of God's Word for this day.God send to His people 'Ezekiels' in this dark day!

4. Ezekiel was prepared of God for the task. 

Verses 8-11. This was common amongst the prophets who served the Lord in hard times. Jeremiah 1:17-19. "But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin," Micah 3:8. These are times when the Lord is fulfilling His Word and there are needed men who have eaten the Word. Rev 10:8-11. Such is the need of men who would serve God in these days of apostasy and rebellion!