Stand up and listen

Ezekiel 2:1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand upon your feet and I will speak to you.”

Why did Ezekiel have to stand up to listen to God speak to him?  I see two reasons within the context of this verse, both of which have powerful implications of what is necessary for effective listening.  First, Ezekiel had fallen on his face in worship when he became aware of the glory of the Lord.  The awe he felt at God’s glory made him more prepared to hear and heed to the voice of the Lord to him.  It was God’s Spirit that guided his standing back up (v.2).  Then, his standing was a signal for action.  What God said to him once he stood was a call to service.  God was sending him out to the Israelites with a message and he could not obey that command lying on his face, even though it was in worship.  There comes a time when we have to stop “inactive” worship and stand up and do something for God.  When that time comes the Holy Spirit will come into us and stand us up for service.