The Watchman and His Message
April 25, 2021
Commentary
Up to this point Ezekiel has pronounced judgment upon Judah (Chap.’s 1-24) and the surrounding nations (Chap.’s 25-32) for their sins. After Jerusalem fell he has turned from messages of doom and judgment to messages of hope, comfort and future restoration for God’s people (Chap.’s 33-48). Up to now Ezekiel has acted as a watchman, warning the nation of coming judgment (3:17-21). Now God appoints him to be a watchman to preach a message of hope. God has promised to bless those who are faithful to Him. Both aspects of Ezekiel’s messages of warning and hope are important.
In the first part of this chapter Ezekiel is reminded of his call to be a watchman (vv. 1-9). The prophet’s ministry is likened unto that of a watchman, or person on guard duty, observing the danger of a coming enemy and then warning his people. In like manner, he is a watchman to them in spiritual matters. The enemy is seeking to destroy the people is their sinful ways of wickedness. To point out their sin and ask them to repent and turn to the Lord is Ezekiel’s mission. If, as a prophet of God, he should fail to warn his people, he will be held accountable.
Application
God will hold me accountable for not warning people about Hell and sharing the Gospel with them.
Ezekiel 33:1– 9 (NET)
1 The Lord’s message came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people, and say to them, ‘Suppose I bring a sword against the land, and the people of the land take one man from their borders and make him their watchman. 3 He sees the sword coming against the land, blows the trumpet, and warns the people, 4 but there is one who hears the sound of the trumpet yet does not heed the warning. Then the sword comes and sweeps him away. He will be responsible for his own death. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, so he is responsible for himself. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But suppose the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people. Then the sword comes and takes one of their lives. He is swept away for his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for that person’s death.’
7 “As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must warn them on my behalf. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you must certainly die,’ and you do not warn the wicked about his behavior, the wicked man will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death. 9 But if you warn the wicked man to change his behavior, and he refuses to change, he will die for his iniquity, but you have saved your own life.