And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
It was written within and without - on the face and the back. Usually the parchment was written only on its inside when rolled up; but so full was God's message of impending woes, it was written also on the back.
Remarks:
(1) When Ezekiel had prostrated himself on his face (Ezekiel 1:28), God lifted him and set him on his feet (Ezekiel 2:1-2). When we abase ourselves, God delights to exalt us. Ezekiel had just seen the Son of Man upon His divine throne: he is now himself honoured with the same title, as being about to be made like to the Son of man in His humiliation, while enduring the contradiction of sinners against Himself first-and in His glory, which is subsequently to be revealed, and which is the reward of His sufferings. If we suffer with Christ now, we shall reign with Christ hereafter.
(2) In contrast to this identification of the prophet with the once suffering and now exalted Son of Man, stands the assimilation of the children of Israel to the Gentile nations (Ezekiel 2:3, note), because of rebellion and transgressions. The professing people of God, when they transgress God's eternal laws, forfeit their privileges, high calling, and even name.
(3) Still, however hardened in countenance and heart the people may be when God sends His messenger to them, the messenger's duty is to go, whether they hear or forbear (Ezekiel 2:4-5). The announcement "Thus saith the Lord God" is a sufficient answer to all objections, and carries: weight for the condemnation, if not for the conversion of sinners. Even if they will not hear at least they cannot say that they did not know the will of God concerning them.
(4) He who would, like Ezekiel, do anything to purpose in the service of God must not be of man. Often the "words" and "looks" of our fellow-men are enough to paralyze us in our good intentions of speaking and acting for God. But we must not yield to this natural fear of man, though the ungodly be dangerous to handle, as is the scratching brier or stinging scorpion (Ezekiel 2:6). Let us rather fear God, and sanctify Him in our hearts, and all lower fears shall cease (1 Peter 3:14).
5. In order to speak the word of God's threatenings and invitations effectually to others, we must first feed on, inwardly digest, and appropriate it ourselves by faith. Though full of lamentations. mourning, and woe (Ezekiel 2:10) to the hardened and impenitent, it is full of love, grace, and joy to the penitent and Believing. Let us seek to have the Spirit of Life, both to set us on our feet for the willing and active discharge of Christian duty, and also to enable us, while trembling at God's threatenings, to make the precious promises of God the daily food of our soul, while we "esteem the words of His mouth more than our necessary food" (Job 23:12).