Tuesday, December 24 Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.​—Ezek. 3:1.

[Áine]

Tuesday, December 24

Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.—Ezek. 3:1.

 

Ezekiel needed to absorb fully the message he was to deliver. It had to become part of him, as it were, affecting his inmost feelings. Then something surprising happened. Ezekiel discovered that the scroll “was as sweet as honey.” (Ezek. 3:3) Why? For Ezekiel, the honor of representing Jehovah was a sweet, or a pleasant, experience. (Ps. 19:8-11) He was grateful that Jehovah had approved of him to serve as his prophet. Later, Jehovah told Ezekiel: “Take to heart and listen to all my words that I speak to you.” (Ezek. 3:10) With those instructions, Jehovah told Ezekiel to store in his memory the words written in the scroll and to meditate on them. Doing so nourished Ezekiel personally. It also provided him with a powerful message to deliver to the people. (Ezek. 3:11) With God’s message in his heart and on his lips, Ezekiel was ready to take on his assignment and fulfill it. w22.11 6 ¶12-14