The Mission of Ezekiel - The Book of Judgment (Ezekiel 2:1 to Ezekiel 3:11).
‘And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak with you.” And the spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet, and I heard him who spoke to me.'
‘Son of man.' This was a favourite address by God to Ezekiel, occurring over ninety times. It was a reminder to him that in contrast with the One he had seen he was simply a man, a creature of earth, born of human parents. ‘Son of --' indicates partaking of the nature of. But it was also a constant reminder to him that he was a man, higher than the beasts. He was a man, and yet only a man. But its constant use was also an indication that he represented man, that he was a specially chosen man. He was the one through whom God was approaching men.
The idea would develop further in Daniel 7 where Israel was ‘a son of man' in contrast to the nations who were wild beasts, and to their glorious representative who would come into the presence of God to receive kingship, and power and dominion on their behalf (Daniel 7:13-14; Daniel 7:27). It became a favourite designation by Jesus of Himself, the great, final Representative of man Who was finally to be seated at God's right hand in power and glory.
The command to ‘stand on your feet' revealed that God had an active purpose for him which had to be fulfilled. He could not receive such words flat on his face. God would not speak to him until he had stood up. Often we too are on our faces when we should be up and ready to be doing. Unlike the ancient kings He did not want man in humiliating postures. He wanted them erect and active in His service.
‘And the Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet.' The Spirit has already been seen active with regard to the charioteers (Ezekiel 1:12; Ezekiel 1:20). Now He possessed Ezekiel and set him on his feet. The vision had so weakened Ezekiel that he knew that without the Spirit's help he would never have been able to stand up. It reminds us that it is only with the Spirit's help that we can stand in the presence of God. Otherwise we would be helpless before Him, cowering and afraid. Then Ezekiel became aware of what the voice was saying to him.