John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 3:24

"Then the Spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet; and he spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thy house." — Ezekiel 3:24 (ASV)

Here Ezekiel confirms what I have said: whenever the faithful are frightened at the sight of God’s glory, they cannot collect their mind unless the Lord supports them by His strength. But this state was peculiar to the Prophet, because he should acknowledge himself, as if dead, when he felt the Spirit of God living and flourishing in his mind.

Therefore, this tends to confirm him, because the Spirit restored him from a state of death to life; therefore he says, the Spirit came. Ultimately, as the soul gives life to a human being, so the Spirit of God is a supernatural life in human beings. We live in the manner of humans, because a power is implanted in our soul which has its own faculties. For in the soul is the seat of intelligence, the will, and the sensations, and it diffuses its vitality through all the members. But the life which souls breathe into bodies is only earthly; the Spirit of God, however, gives life supernaturally.

This distinction must be maintained, because profane men boast only in outward appearances, as they call it—that is, in outward splendor, which is nothing more than a mask; and so, with all their might, they celebrate free will and our natural faculties, because they have never tasted what that supernatural life is which is mentioned here. Ezekiel indeed was filled with the Spirit of God in a special manner, so that he might be fit to undertake the prophetic office, but this is common to the faithful for their spiritual life.

He says next, that he was placed upon his feet, because he was lying prostrate and, as I have said, could not raise a finger unless he had been raised by divine power. Afterwards, he relates the command of God, which appears to be absurd. For why did God appoint Ezekiel a Prophet, if not for him to apply himself to the office of teaching?

But now He orders him not only to rest, but even to be concealed at home. He uses the word “concealed” as if He had said, “Remain at home as a captive.” If he had been a private citizen, he would have been free to come and go; but now, since God charges him with the prophetic office, he is held captive. But all this is opposed to his mission.

But first, God wished to prove the obedience of His servant; then He wished especially to confirm his calling more and more. For this was no common confirmation: although the Prophet excelled in exceptional power, he did not immediately rush into public view, but rested at home and became a voluntary captive, because it pleased God. Thus, all the people could know that the Prophet did not act rashly or by any sudden impulse, because he was often mute by the command of God.