Worship

Scripture

As I read Ezekiel these past days and noticed how frequently God addresses the prophet as son of man, I grew curious about that title. I thought that it must bear relationship to Jesus’s reference to himself as The Son of Man in the gospels.  So a quick search at a bible trivia website showed, first of all, that God calls Ezekiel son of man 90 times in the prophetic book that bears his name.  But, my source pointed out, there’s no Messianic connection or any other significance to the term son of man applied to Ezekiel in relation to Jesus. 

There are also important differences between son of man in the two Testaments.  Notice, for example, how son of man in Ezekiel is not capitalized; in the New Testament, The Son of Man is capitalized as a proper noun.  In addition, the gospels always refer to Jesus using the definite article the: He’s not just a Son of Man; he’s THE Son of Man. Such is a fitting title for the one and only Savior!

The common noun son of man, we find, is also used in other books of the Old Testament.  To the Jewish hearer of Ezekiel’s time, that common term would have suggested humility, an indicator that man is mortal, the heir to Adam’s curse and someone who, in the end, desperately depends on God for salvation, because man cannot save himself.  There is no honor in the Old Testament for being called a son of man!

In the end, we conclude that it’s truly for our good that there is only one The Son of Man.  The rest of us sons of man [or daughters of man], like Ezekiel, are related to one another in the imperfection of our humanity and in our inability to save neither ourselves nor one another.  We need The Son of Man for salvation!  And by the grace of God, that need is supplied.  While we must tarry as mere sons of man for our earthly passage, we live under the hopeful assurance that we will no longer be sons of man, but rather sons of The Son of Man, fully vested heirs with Christ throughout eternal glory.

Prayer

HONOR GOD

God is more concerned with your willingness to glorify Him than what you have to offer Him. Will you honor Him, now, with what you have? Take a moment and give Him your best praise in prayer.

ASK GOD

God is ready to meet you in your time of need. Where do you need God’s grace?

SUBMIT TO GOD

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, thank you that we have the Holy Spirit residing within us. Thank you that Christ came to cleanse us so that even when we make a wrong turn, we are forgiven and redeemed. Father, help us to listen intently to the convictions and guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we stay on track with what you have planned for us. We love you and trust you. In Jesus Name, Amen