Ezekiel 2:10

Being a prophet was not a career that someone chose. It was also not a role passed down from father to son, as the priesthood was.

God himself called prophets to their task. Because of this, many prophets included the story of their call in their writings (see, for example, Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 1:4–19; Jonah 1:1–2).

The scroll contained so many words of judgment that writing covered both sides. This showed how serious the message was.

Ezekiel had to announce the curses for breaking the covenant (God’s promises and commands) to a rebellious people (see Deuteronomy 28:15–68; compare Zechariah 5:2–4).

This scroll full of judgment is a clear picture of the message in Ezekiel 1–24.

Old Testament prophetic books often begin with a “call narrative.” A call narrative describes how God chose and sent a prophet to serve in this role (for example, Jeremiah 1:4–19).

This account showed that the prophet’s message was legitimate. It made clear that the prophet spoke as the Lord’s ambassador (a representative sent with authority). The call narrative also introduced important themes that the book would explain more fully later.

In Ezekiel, the call narrative focuses on the Lord’s coming judgment on his people.