Expressing Expressly
Expressing Expressly
Text: Ezekiel 1:1–3
Theme: When God speaks expressly, we must listen.
In the opening chapter of Ezekiel, we encounter a profound truth often overlooked in our busy, distracted age: God still speaks, and sometimes He speaks expressly. To express something is to state or show it. To speak expressly is to do so plainly, directly, and unmistakably. In 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan communicated expressly with David through arrows, leaving no room for doubt or confusion. In the same way, Ezekiel 1 reminds us that God does not always whisper in riddles; sometimes, He speaks clearly enough that His people must stop, listen, and respond.
The Word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel. God wanted His prophet to hear, understand, and declare His message with certainty. Jesus echoed this same call when He said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Today, the Spirit still speaks expressly to the church. Scripture warns us plainly about the condition of the church in the latter times, the increasing conspiracy of spiritual deception, and the urgent need for discernment and faithfulness. Just as Ezekiel had a sure word from God, we, too, have “a more sure word of prophecy” shining as a light in dark places, if only we will take heed. As A.W. Tozer said, “The Bible is not only a book for reading but a voice for hearing.”
Not only did God’s Word come expressly, but His hand came expressly upon Ezekiel as well. Throughout Scripture, the “hand of the Lord” represents God’s powerful, personal, and purposeful involvement in the lives of His people. His hand is good. His right hand, often a symbol of Christ’s authority, brings salvation, strength, comfort, and correction. Ezekiel’s own name means “strengthened of God,” reminding us that divine strength is never abstract; it is administered by the unmistakable hand of the Lord. Whether He is upholding us, shaping us like the potter shapes the clay, or correcting us in love, His hand works expressly and intentionally. As E.M. Bounds wrote, “The man whom God uses is the man God touches.”
Finally, Ezekiel testifies that the glory of the Lord appeared to him expressly. He saw it clearly, brightly, overwhelmingly, again in chapters 8 and 10, just as Isaiah saw it in chapter 6, the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, Paul in heavenly visions, and John in Revelation. God’s glory is not vague or hidden to those who look for it. Even in captivity, Ezekiel beheld it. We, too, are called to behold “the glory of the Lord” with unveiled faces, seeing Him in His Word, His creation, His promises, and His presence with His people.
God’s glory appears expressly in many ways. Like the cloud that filled the tabernacle, His presence still surrounds His people both inwardly and outwardly. Like the morning sun breaking through the night, His glory brightens our darkness with hope, mercy, and new beginnings. Like the rainbow after the storm, His glory confirms every one of His promises—He cannot lie. And like the shepherds or Joshua before the Captain of the Lord’s host, His glory humbles us, bringing us to worship, awe, and obedience. As Amy Carmichael beautifully put it, “One morning in heaven will make up for all the nights on earth.”
The message of Ezekiel 1 is simple but searching: God expresses Himself expressly through His Word, His hand, and His glory. The question is not whether God is speaking plainly. The question is whether we are listening plainly. Richard Baxter warned, “The great danger is not that God does not speak, but that we refuse to hear.” May we be a people who respond expressly when the Lord speaks, yielding our ears, our hearts, and our lives to the One who still speaks clearly today.
Text: Ezekiel 1:1–3
Theme: When God speaks expressly, we must listen.
In the opening chapter of Ezekiel, we encounter a profound truth often overlooked in our busy, distracted age: God still speaks, and sometimes He speaks expressly. To express something is to state or show it. To speak expressly is to do so plainly, directly, and unmistakably. In 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan communicated expressly with David through arrows, leaving no room for doubt or confusion. In the same way, Ezekiel 1 reminds us that God does not always whisper in riddles; sometimes, He speaks clearly enough that His people must stop, listen, and respond.
The Word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel. God wanted His prophet to hear, understand, and declare His message with certainty. Jesus echoed this same call when He said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Today, the Spirit still speaks expressly to the church. Scripture warns us plainly about the condition of the church in the latter times, the increasing conspiracy of spiritual deception, and the urgent need for discernment and faithfulness. Just as Ezekiel had a sure word from God, we, too, have “a more sure word of prophecy” shining as a light in dark places, if only we will take heed. As A.W. Tozer said, “The Bible is not only a book for reading but a voice for hearing.”
Not only did God’s Word come expressly, but His hand came expressly upon Ezekiel as well. Throughout Scripture, the “hand of the Lord” represents God’s powerful, personal, and purposeful involvement in the lives of His people. His hand is good. His right hand, often a symbol of Christ’s authority, brings salvation, strength, comfort, and correction. Ezekiel’s own name means “strengthened of God,” reminding us that divine strength is never abstract; it is administered by the unmistakable hand of the Lord. Whether He is upholding us, shaping us like the potter shapes the clay, or correcting us in love, His hand works expressly and intentionally. As E.M. Bounds wrote, “The man whom God uses is the man God touches.”
Finally, Ezekiel testifies that the glory of the Lord appeared to him expressly. He saw it clearly, brightly, overwhelmingly, again in chapters 8 and 10, just as Isaiah saw it in chapter 6, the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, Paul in heavenly visions, and John in Revelation. God’s glory is not vague or hidden to those who look for it. Even in captivity, Ezekiel beheld it. We, too, are called to behold “the glory of the Lord” with unveiled faces, seeing Him in His Word, His creation, His promises, and His presence with His people.
God’s glory appears expressly in many ways. Like the cloud that filled the tabernacle, His presence still surrounds His people both inwardly and outwardly. Like the morning sun breaking through the night, His glory brightens our darkness with hope, mercy, and new beginnings. Like the rainbow after the storm, His glory confirms every one of His promises—He cannot lie. And like the shepherds or Joshua before the Captain of the Lord’s host, His glory humbles us, bringing us to worship, awe, and obedience. As Amy Carmichael beautifully put it, “One morning in heaven will make up for all the nights on earth.”
The message of Ezekiel 1 is simple but searching: God expresses Himself expressly through His Word, His hand, and His glory. The question is not whether God is speaking plainly. The question is whether we are listening plainly. Richard Baxter warned, “The great danger is not that God does not speak, but that we refuse to hear.” May we be a people who respond expressly when the Lord speaks, yielding our ears, our hearts, and our lives to the One who still speaks clearly today.
No Comments