Facing Mount Seir: A Call to Boldness and Prophetic Action
"Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it," - Ezekiel 35:2

Ezekiel 35:2 states, "Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it." This powerful exhortation from God to the prophet Ezekiel carries profound implications, not just for the nation of Israel but for all believers today. In this short verse, we find layers of meaning that speak to the call of the believer to stand boldly against injustice, sin, and any forces that oppose God’s kingdom.
### Understanding Mount Seir
To grasp the significance of this command, we must first recognize what Mount Seir represents. In biblical geography, it is often associated with Edom, a nation that descended from Esau, Jacob's brother. This historical context provides insight into the enmity that had grown between Israel and Edom. The Edomites were notorious for their hostility towards Israel, especially during the Israelites’ time of suffering and exile.
Ezekiel's prophetic mission to set his face against Mount Seir was a declaration of God’s judgment upon that nation for its actions against Israel, and, by extension, it symbolizes the broader concept of opposing anything that stands in contradiction to God’s will and purpose. For believers, Mount Seir can represent any stronghold that stands against God, whether it is individual sin, societal injustice, or spiritual opposition.
### The Call to Prophesy
The instruction to prophesy against Mount Seir is significant in several ways. Prophecy is not merely about foretelling the future but is often about speaking God’s truth to the present reality. When Ezekiel prophesies against Seir, he is acting as God’s voice, calling for accountability and declaring divine judgment. It is a powerful reminder that in our own lives, we are called to speak truth to power, to confront sin, and to declare God’s justice in the world around us.
Every believer is endowed with the Holy Spirit who empowers us to declare God’s truth. In this age, we may not be called to prophesy in the exact manner Ezekiel did, but we certainly have the responsibility to share the Gospel, confront sin within ourselves and others, and stand up for righteousness. Christ’s Great Commission urges us to go forth and teach, baptize, and proclaim the good news of Jesus. Thus, the spirit of Ezekiel’s mandate lives on today.
### Setting Your Face
The phrase "set thy face" conveys a sense of determination and focus. It evokes the imagery of resolve and commitment. In a cultural context where yielding to societal norms is often easier, believers are called to set their faces against the tides of compromise, culture, and sinful persuasion. The world may press in upon us, tempting us to remain silent in the face of injustice or evildoing, but God calls us to stand firm.
Setting our face also indicates readiness and preparation. How can we prepare ourselves to prophesy against modern-day Mount Seirs? First, we must immerse ourselves in prayer and Scripture, seeking God’s heart and understanding His righteousness. Second, we should become actively engaged in our communities, discerning the injustices that plague them and standing up for those who have no voice. This reflection of God’s love and truth will often require sacrifice and resilience but will also yield powerful results, both in our own lives and the lives of others.
### Conclusion
As we reflect on Ezekiel 35:2, let us be reminded of our prophetic responsibility. Like Ezekiel, we ought to set our faces against the worldly Mount Seirs we encounter, resisting intimidation and fear. In doing so, we join the ranks of God’s faithful servants throughout the ages, who boldly proclaimed His truth, stood for righteousness, and trusted in God’s sovereign plan.
May we take up the mantle, proclaiming boldly against any semblance of opposition to God’s kingdom, remembering that our fight is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). With God’s strength, as we set our faces against the Mount Seirs of today, we shall see His glory revealed.
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Ezekiel 35:2 Artwork
Ezekiel 35:2 - "Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,"
"Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it," - Ezekiel 35:2
Ezekiel 16:35 - "¶ Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:"
Ezekiel 35:1 - "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezekiel 40:35 - "¶ And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;"
Ezekiel 20:35 - "And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face."
Ezekiel 48:35 - "It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there."
Ezekiel 35:14 - "Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate."
Ezekiel 27:35 - "All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance."
"¶ Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:" - Ezekiel 16:35
Ezekiel 35:10 - "Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was there:"
Ezekiel 35:4 - "I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 35:9 - "I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 36:35 - "And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited."
Ezekiel 35:7 - "Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth."
"Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying," - Ezekiel 35:1
Ezekiel 35:13 - "Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them."
"¶ And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;" - Ezekiel 40:35
Ezekiel 35:5 - "Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:"
2 Chronicles 35:23
2 Chronicles 35:10
2 Chronicles 35:11
2 Chronicles 35:2 - "And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD,"
2 Samuel 23:35 - "Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,"
"And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face." - Ezekiel 20:35
Ezekiel 23:35 - "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms."
2 Chronicles 35:19 - "In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept."
Acts 2:35 - "Until I make thy foes thy footstool."
Ezra 2:35 - "The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty."
"It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there." - Ezekiel 48:35