When you spread out what is said in these chapters, four things are emphasized: Eat, Enjoy, Exhort, and Endure.  When God gave Ezekiel a message to proclaim to the people He said in Ezekiel 2:8: “Open your mouth and eat what I give you.”  More vividly it says in 3:1, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.”  He opened his mouth and God gave him the scroll to eat.  In verse 3 it says he was “to eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” 

When he ate it “it tasted as sweet as honey in (his) mouth.”  There is a unique, enjoyable taste when you eat or study the Word of God and fill your stomach with it.  This describes an intense absorption or digestion of what you read and study.  You’ll not be able to proclaim God’s Word with conviction and authority if you have not first eaten and enjoyed it, or applied it to your own life.  Then you’ll be ready to exhort others with God’s Word.  But when exhorting others, be ready to endure their opposition, if not outright rebellion. 

That’s why God reminded Ezekiel again and again, “do not be afraid!”  God made it very clear to Ezekiel, his task would not be easy, but he has a divine imperative to speak God’s Word to those to whom God sends him.