"Causing Consternation"

"Then I came to the exiles who lived beside the River Chebar at Tel-abib, and I sat there seven days where they were living, causing consternation among them." (Ezekiel 3:15-- NASB)

The best I can make of this passage is that Ezekiel caused, "consternation," but he was also, "overwhelmed," (NIV), and, "astonished (NKJV) seven days."  The Hebrew reveals that Ezekiel was "speechless, motionless" for that period.  One can only pray for such anointing among us.  Today's church is just too blasé, too flippant, too, "of this world" to encounter such a move of the Holy Spirit.  But it need not be.  When the People of Jesus Christ are "astonished" and "overwhelmed" by the Word of God, when they are "motionless" and "speechless" with, at, and in "The Bread of the Presence," Jesus Christ, we can then see, and we can then hear "what the Spirit is saying to the churches." 

The Word of God told Ezekiel earlier in the passage, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go speak to the house of Israel ....Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth...."  It was in this calling that Ezekiel "sat there seven days...among them."  A watchman is one who "leans forward...to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await."  The Church of Jesus Christ has been called to be "a watchman for the house of Israel," and, the nations.  We will cause "consternation" and "astonishment" for some, others will simply avoid
or ignore us----------- and perish. 

The Church is called to fast, to pray, to care for the widow and the orphan, the poor, to "disciple the nations."  We are also called, as Ezekiel, to "lean forward...to peer into the distance, to observe, await."  When we do, our words and activity will not be empty rhetoric and fruitless endeavor, but "mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...."------ "consternation" to some----------------------- Life and Peace to you and me.

Father, in Jesus' Name, grant me grace "to peer into the distance, to observe, await," and mostly, "lean forward" into You.  Amen.
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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2