Taking Words to God: The Character of Acceptable Prayer

Ezekiel's command—"Take with you words, and turn to the Lord"—establishes how penitent Israel must approach Elohim. Joseph S. Exell, the Victorian homiletic scholar, identified two essential truths within this summons. First, the prayer reveals who may draw near: sinners alone, stripped of pretense, acknowledging absolute dependence. The prophet himself furnishes the acceptable words, making this petition divinely endorsed—no fabrication of human eloquence.…