God speaks clearly in times of crisis and calls His people to heed His direction.
“In the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” (Ezekiel 12:8). Here, the prophet Ezekiel continues the account of God’s direct communication to him. Ezekiel served as a prophet during the Babylonian exile, which began in 605 BC when Nebuchadnezzar first deported noble citizens from Jerusalem to Babylon, and continued with larger deportations in 597 BC and 586 BC. Ezekiel himself was among those exiled in 597 BC, and his ministry spanned roughly from 593 BC to 571 BC. The phrase “the word of the LORD came to me” highlights the divine authority behind Ezekiel’s message. This was not a mere human intuition, but a profound revelation from the God who had chosen Ezekiel as His spokesperson.
In addressing this moment “in the morning,” (Ezekiel 12:8) the text gives a sense of urgency and clarity. God often spoke through Ezekiel using symbolic acts, which the prophet would perform to illustrate the warnings and prophecies given to the people of Israel. Earlier in the chapter, Ezekiel portrays the act of packing baggage for exile as a message to stubborn listeners, prompting them to understand God’s impending judgment. Now, at daybreak, God’s word arrives again, emphasizing that every detail in Ezekiel’s life—morning or evening—was orchestrated to convey a crucial message about repentance and trust in the LORD.
This one verse also reminds readers of how God’s revelation to the prophets in the Old Testament foreshadows His ultimate revelation through Jesus Christ in the New Testament (Hebrews 1:1-2). Just as Ezekiel faithfully shared the word delivered to him, Jesus, who is called the Word made flesh (John 1:14), embodied and fulfilled all that God had spoken before. Through Ezekiel’s obedience, Israel was called to recognize the seriousness of their condition and respond to God before it was too late.
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Ezekiel 12:8 meaning
“In the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” (Ezekiel 12:8). Here, the prophet Ezekiel continues the account of God’s direct communication to him. Ezekiel served as a prophet during the Babylonian exile, which began in 605 BC when Nebuchadnezzar first deported noble citizens from Jerusalem to Babylon, and continued with larger deportations in 597 BC and 586 BC. Ezekiel himself was among those exiled in 597 BC, and his ministry spanned roughly from 593 BC to 571 BC. The phrase “the word of the LORD came to me” highlights the divine authority behind Ezekiel’s message. This was not a mere human intuition, but a profound revelation from the God who had chosen Ezekiel as His spokesperson.
In addressing this moment “in the morning,” (Ezekiel 12:8) the text gives a sense of urgency and clarity. God often spoke through Ezekiel using symbolic acts, which the prophet would perform to illustrate the warnings and prophecies given to the people of Israel. Earlier in the chapter, Ezekiel portrays the act of packing baggage for exile as a message to stubborn listeners, prompting them to understand God’s impending judgment. Now, at daybreak, God’s word arrives again, emphasizing that every detail in Ezekiel’s life—morning or evening—was orchestrated to convey a crucial message about repentance and trust in the LORD.
This one verse also reminds readers of how God’s revelation to the prophets in the Old Testament foreshadows His ultimate revelation through Jesus Christ in the New Testament (Hebrews 1:1-2). Just as Ezekiel faithfully shared the word delivered to him, Jesus, who is called the Word made flesh (John 1:14), embodied and fulfilled all that God had spoken before. Through Ezekiel’s obedience, Israel was called to recognize the seriousness of their condition and respond to God before it was too late.