1. A siege against Jerusalem (1-8)

The Lord commanded Ezekiel to make a clay model of Jerusalem and place it under siege. It was a sign of the Lord's judgment. He commanded Ezekiel to lie on his side as a way to bear the sin of the people. He was to do this a total of 430 days, but the Lord had been bearing the sin of his people that many years. The Lord is the judge, but he is the Lord who has borne the sin of his people with long suffering patience. Now Ezekiel would learn the Lord as one bound to him who bears the full weight of sin.

2. Because of their sin (9-17)

The Lord commanded Ezekiel to defile himself by eating bread baked over human excrement. In the same way Israel would go into judgment, forced to eat defiled food. What truly defiles men is sin against God. The Lord is the one who bears sin and who judges sin. He called Ezekiel, not to be undefiled, but to join him who bears the weight of sin.