The Watchman (Ezekiel 3:17; 33:7)
Ezekiel 3:17, Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. Ezekiel 33:7, So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
The Titanic is one of the worst maritime disasters in history. The British luxury liner Titanic (46,000 gross tons) of the White Star Line, on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, struck an iceberg about 95 miles south of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland just before midnight on April 14, 1912. Of the more than 2,220 persons aboard, about 1,513 died. The ship had been proclaimed unsinkable because of its 16 watertight compartments. Nevertheless, the iceberg sufficiently damaged the Titanic to make it sink in less than three hours. Investigations found that the ship had been steaming too fast in dangerous waters, that lifeboat space had been provided for only about half of the passengers and crew. Warnings came, however, the response was “You’re jamming up our signals.” The Californian, closest ship to the scene, had not come to the rescue because its radio operator was off duty and asleep. A warning can be a matter of life and death.
On September 11, 2001, the people working in the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York had no warning that planes were going to slam into their buildings on the morning of September 11, 2001. As a result, 2,606 people would lose their lives in the collapse of the buildings. More would die in the planes and at the Pentagon. A warning can be a matter of life and death.
The sailors who slept on the USS Arizona and other Navy vessels at Pearl Harbor were given no warning on the morning of December 7, 1941, that Japanese planes were on their way to attack. As a result, more than 20 naval vessels were sunk or badly damaged, almost 200 American aircraft were destroyed, and 2,335 U.S. servicemen were killed and 1,143 were wounded. A warning can be a matter of life and death.
The Intelligence Agency of a nation is of critical importance in protecting its people. Whether a satellite or a plane in the sky, a mechanical or human spy, or a soldier or guard on the border, a nation’s ability to gain intelligence determines its capability to protect itself. In ancient history a nation protected itself by establishing fortified cities and outposts along its borders as well as by posting military patrols at key locations throughout the land. But most important of all were the watchmen who were strategically posted along the walls of a city. It was the watchman’s duty to scan the horizon for any approaching enemy and to be alert to any danger within the city, such as fire or civil disturbance. As God’s man, I must take the Word of God forth to the world, proclaiming the glorious message of salvation to every human being of every generation.
Ezekiel explains in Ezekiel 3:17, that the watchman had a responsibility to warn the people of God’s judgment. He was the difference between the life and death of the people. Ezekiel 33:7-9. As a watchman, Ezekiel is informed that he is not responsible for the reactions of the people, however he is responsible to warn them. God stressed the personal responsibility of both the prophet and the people who heard his message of repentance that was to follow.
The Failure of the Prophet (Ezekiel 3:18, 20).
Ezekiel 3:18, When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Ezekiel 3:20, Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. If Ezekiel fails to warn either the wicked or the righteous, he will be held accountable and punished for his failure. If the watchman was irresponsible and failed to warn the people of an approaching danger, two things would happen. First, the people would die because of the watchman’s unfaithful and irresponsible behavior. Second, God would hold the watchman accountable for that person’s death. under the judgment of God. But if the watchman failed to give the warning and people died, the watchman would be held accountable for their deaths.
The Failure of the People (Ezekiel 3:19).
Ezekiel 3:19, Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. If Ezekiel faithfully warns the wicked and also the righteous of evil, then he will be reckoned accordingly before God. Your service can be the difference between someone getting saved or going to hell. We have a strong responsibility to be faithful in our service for God.
As he had opportunity to share the message, his prayer was to be able to reveal the mystery of Christ clearly. If the Gospel is not clear to the church, then it will not be clear to the community. It is the responsibility of God’s men today to warn people of God’s just judgment against sin and call them to repentance. God’s men who fail to fully carry out this sacred duty are accountable. God emphasizes that Ezekiel was to faithfully continue to warn the people to turn from sin and to accept God’s salvation. The duty of a watchman is to preach both the love and justice of God. God never takes pleasure in the death of the wicked. Jesus Christ is the supreme proof of this fact. God loves the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for the sins of every human being (John 3:16), When people reject Christ, the Lord grieves, because He has made a way for people to escape sin and death, the way of repentance.
As a watchman, God gave Ezekiel some warnings regarding his ministry. According to Ezekiel 33:6, God will hold a watchman accountable. A watchman (one positioned in a tower or on the city wall to look out for invaders or approaching disaster) who saw destruction coming and did not sound an alarm to warn the people would be held responsible for their deaths. In God’s kingdom, a pastor who does not warn those who are uncommitted or rebellious against God about the danger of judgment will be held accountable for the people’s spiritual destruction. All Christians have the responsibility to share their faith with people who are spiritually lost or without a personal relationship with God and to help fulfill the mission Jesus gave to the church (Matthew 28:19). We will give an account to God if we refuse to obey Jesus’ Great Commission (Acts 20:26).
Ezekiel was to be a watchman, warning that all who continued to resist God would be punished with death (Ezekiel 3:18). If Ezekiel failed to warn the wicked, he would be held accountable for their deaths. Faithful men of God today embrace Ezekiel’s example by warning those in their congregations who are behaving in ungodly ways that they will be excluded from God’s kingdom if they do not repent (I Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:18-21; Ephesians 5:5). God’s people are to be taught that they must admit their sins, turn from their own selfish ways and begin to follow God’s purposes. Those who fail to warn the unfaithful will themselves be accountable to God for people’s spiritual destruction. We must always remember that God has given us the responsibility to take His message of forgiveness and new life through Christ to the entire world (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). This message includes the warning of eternal death for all who refuse to accept Christ’s forgiveness. God has made all of Christ’s followers his watchmen (Matthew 18:15). According to Ezekiel 33:7, God had made Ezekiel His watchman. God emphasized again that Ezekiel was to faithfully continue to warn the people to turn from sin and to accept God’s salvation. Today the church and its Pastor must help spread the message of spiritual salvation through Jesus Christ to all nations (Ezekiel 3:18).
In Ezekiel 22:30, the LORD cried out for a man to stand in the gap. Just as Christ is the mediator between man and God (I Timothy 2:5), so redeemed man is the “gap” between the lost and Christ. With Christ in Heaven and the Holy Spirit in the Christian, the Christian is the only person on earth to represent God before others. This is our responsibility, our calling as “ambassadors of Christ” (II Corinthians 5:20). Too often few respond to their calling. Like Ezekiel, we must be the man in the “gap”. As a watchman, we will:
As he had been appointed, so have we. We are God’s watchmen as well (Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:20). No one will be held more responsible for the cities we live in than us (Esther 4:14; Acts 17:26). I believe we all are accountable for giving the Gospel to the lost. We have a responsibility to try to tell people how to be saved either by witnessing to them or giving them a gospel tract. Do you have friends or loved ones that need the Lord? If so, make an effort to tell them about Jesus Christ and how to be saved. If you don't know Christ, you can turn to Him right now. According to an old legend, a man became lost in his travels and wandered into a bed of quicksand. Confucius saw the man's predicament and said, "It is evident that men should stay out of places such as this." Next, Buddha observed the situation and said, "Let that man's plight be a lesson to the rest of the world." Then Mohammed came by and said to the sinking man, "Alas, it is the will of God." Finally, Jesus appeared and said, "Take my hand, brother, and I will save you." If you know not the Lord, He will save you if you will ask Him.
Point to Ponder:
A warning can be a matter of eternity.
We live in a world where at least 2 billion people currently lack access to the Gospel.
We should be ready and eager to share the good news of Christ. Peter 3:15.
If the Gospel is not in our hearts or on our mind, then it will not come out of our mouths.
Questions to Consider:
What are we doing with the message we have been given?
How can you be the watchmen you need to be for your city, your state, and your nation?
Who in your city still hasn’t heard that Christ has not only come once but is also coming again (Psalm 96:13)?
How would your community, city, and country be different if your church asked God every day for opportunities to share the Gospel?
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for those You sent my way to share the Gospel with me. Help me, that I may share the Gospel with those You allow me to connect with. In Jesus name, AMEN!
If this post in any way, has blessed you,
please share this website and its articles with others:
www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
Ezekiel 3:17, Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. Ezekiel 33:7, So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
The Titanic is one of the worst maritime disasters in history. The British luxury liner Titanic (46,000 gross tons) of the White Star Line, on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, struck an iceberg about 95 miles south of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland just before midnight on April 14, 1912. Of the more than 2,220 persons aboard, about 1,513 died. The ship had been proclaimed unsinkable because of its 16 watertight compartments. Nevertheless, the iceberg sufficiently damaged the Titanic to make it sink in less than three hours. Investigations found that the ship had been steaming too fast in dangerous waters, that lifeboat space had been provided for only about half of the passengers and crew. Warnings came, however, the response was “You’re jamming up our signals.” The Californian, closest ship to the scene, had not come to the rescue because its radio operator was off duty and asleep. A warning can be a matter of life and death.
On September 11, 2001, the people working in the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York had no warning that planes were going to slam into their buildings on the morning of September 11, 2001. As a result, 2,606 people would lose their lives in the collapse of the buildings. More would die in the planes and at the Pentagon. A warning can be a matter of life and death.
The sailors who slept on the USS Arizona and other Navy vessels at Pearl Harbor were given no warning on the morning of December 7, 1941, that Japanese planes were on their way to attack. As a result, more than 20 naval vessels were sunk or badly damaged, almost 200 American aircraft were destroyed, and 2,335 U.S. servicemen were killed and 1,143 were wounded. A warning can be a matter of life and death.
The Intelligence Agency of a nation is of critical importance in protecting its people. Whether a satellite or a plane in the sky, a mechanical or human spy, or a soldier or guard on the border, a nation’s ability to gain intelligence determines its capability to protect itself. In ancient history a nation protected itself by establishing fortified cities and outposts along its borders as well as by posting military patrols at key locations throughout the land. But most important of all were the watchmen who were strategically posted along the walls of a city. It was the watchman’s duty to scan the horizon for any approaching enemy and to be alert to any danger within the city, such as fire or civil disturbance. As God’s man, I must take the Word of God forth to the world, proclaiming the glorious message of salvation to every human being of every generation.
Ezekiel explains in Ezekiel 3:17, that the watchman had a responsibility to warn the people of God’s judgment. He was the difference between the life and death of the people. Ezekiel 33:7-9. As a watchman, Ezekiel is informed that he is not responsible for the reactions of the people, however he is responsible to warn them. God stressed the personal responsibility of both the prophet and the people who heard his message of repentance that was to follow.
The Failure of the Prophet (Ezekiel 3:18, 20).
Ezekiel 3:18, When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Ezekiel 3:20, Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. If Ezekiel fails to warn either the wicked or the righteous, he will be held accountable and punished for his failure. If the watchman was irresponsible and failed to warn the people of an approaching danger, two things would happen. First, the people would die because of the watchman’s unfaithful and irresponsible behavior. Second, God would hold the watchman accountable for that person’s death. under the judgment of God. But if the watchman failed to give the warning and people died, the watchman would be held accountable for their deaths.
The Failure of the People (Ezekiel 3:19).
Ezekiel 3:19, Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. If Ezekiel faithfully warns the wicked and also the righteous of evil, then he will be reckoned accordingly before God. Your service can be the difference between someone getting saved or going to hell. We have a strong responsibility to be faithful in our service for God.
As he had opportunity to share the message, his prayer was to be able to reveal the mystery of Christ clearly. If the Gospel is not clear to the church, then it will not be clear to the community. It is the responsibility of God’s men today to warn people of God’s just judgment against sin and call them to repentance. God’s men who fail to fully carry out this sacred duty are accountable. God emphasizes that Ezekiel was to faithfully continue to warn the people to turn from sin and to accept God’s salvation. The duty of a watchman is to preach both the love and justice of God. God never takes pleasure in the death of the wicked. Jesus Christ is the supreme proof of this fact. God loves the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for the sins of every human being (John 3:16), When people reject Christ, the Lord grieves, because He has made a way for people to escape sin and death, the way of repentance.
As a watchman, God gave Ezekiel some warnings regarding his ministry. According to Ezekiel 33:6, God will hold a watchman accountable. A watchman (one positioned in a tower or on the city wall to look out for invaders or approaching disaster) who saw destruction coming and did not sound an alarm to warn the people would be held responsible for their deaths. In God’s kingdom, a pastor who does not warn those who are uncommitted or rebellious against God about the danger of judgment will be held accountable for the people’s spiritual destruction. All Christians have the responsibility to share their faith with people who are spiritually lost or without a personal relationship with God and to help fulfill the mission Jesus gave to the church (Matthew 28:19). We will give an account to God if we refuse to obey Jesus’ Great Commission (Acts 20:26).
Ezekiel was to be a watchman, warning that all who continued to resist God would be punished with death (Ezekiel 3:18). If Ezekiel failed to warn the wicked, he would be held accountable for their deaths. Faithful men of God today embrace Ezekiel’s example by warning those in their congregations who are behaving in ungodly ways that they will be excluded from God’s kingdom if they do not repent (I Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:18-21; Ephesians 5:5). God’s people are to be taught that they must admit their sins, turn from their own selfish ways and begin to follow God’s purposes. Those who fail to warn the unfaithful will themselves be accountable to God for people’s spiritual destruction. We must always remember that God has given us the responsibility to take His message of forgiveness and new life through Christ to the entire world (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). This message includes the warning of eternal death for all who refuse to accept Christ’s forgiveness. God has made all of Christ’s followers his watchmen (Matthew 18:15). According to Ezekiel 33:7, God had made Ezekiel His watchman. God emphasized again that Ezekiel was to faithfully continue to warn the people to turn from sin and to accept God’s salvation. Today the church and its Pastor must help spread the message of spiritual salvation through Jesus Christ to all nations (Ezekiel 3:18).
In Ezekiel 22:30, the LORD cried out for a man to stand in the gap. Just as Christ is the mediator between man and God (I Timothy 2:5), so redeemed man is the “gap” between the lost and Christ. With Christ in Heaven and the Holy Spirit in the Christian, the Christian is the only person on earth to represent God before others. This is our responsibility, our calling as “ambassadors of Christ” (II Corinthians 5:20). Too often few respond to their calling. Like Ezekiel, we must be the man in the “gap”. As a watchman, we will:
- Walk like Enoch (Genesis 5:22).
- Work like Noah (Genesis 6:13-22).
- Obey Like Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4).
- Trust like Isaac (Genesis 22:6-14).
- Flee temptation like Joseph (Genesis 39:12).
- Stand like Elijah (I Kings 18:17-22).
- Be convincing like Elisha (II Kings 6:15-17).
- Serve like Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8).
- Be bold like Peter and John (Acts 4:13).
- Be yielded like Stephen (Acts 7:55-60).
- Testify like Paul (Acts 26:1-29).
- Suffer like Moses (Hebrews 11:23-25).
As he had been appointed, so have we. We are God’s watchmen as well (Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:20). No one will be held more responsible for the cities we live in than us (Esther 4:14; Acts 17:26). I believe we all are accountable for giving the Gospel to the lost. We have a responsibility to try to tell people how to be saved either by witnessing to them or giving them a gospel tract. Do you have friends or loved ones that need the Lord? If so, make an effort to tell them about Jesus Christ and how to be saved. If you don't know Christ, you can turn to Him right now. According to an old legend, a man became lost in his travels and wandered into a bed of quicksand. Confucius saw the man's predicament and said, "It is evident that men should stay out of places such as this." Next, Buddha observed the situation and said, "Let that man's plight be a lesson to the rest of the world." Then Mohammed came by and said to the sinking man, "Alas, it is the will of God." Finally, Jesus appeared and said, "Take my hand, brother, and I will save you." If you know not the Lord, He will save you if you will ask Him.
Point to Ponder:
A warning can be a matter of eternity.
We live in a world where at least 2 billion people currently lack access to the Gospel.
We should be ready and eager to share the good news of Christ. Peter 3:15.
If the Gospel is not in our hearts or on our mind, then it will not come out of our mouths.
Questions to Consider:
What are we doing with the message we have been given?
How can you be the watchmen you need to be for your city, your state, and your nation?
Who in your city still hasn’t heard that Christ has not only come once but is also coming again (Psalm 96:13)?
How would your community, city, and country be different if your church asked God every day for opportunities to share the Gospel?
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for those You sent my way to share the Gospel with me. Help me, that I may share the Gospel with those You allow me to connect with. In Jesus name, AMEN!
If this post in any way, has blessed you,
please share this website and its articles with others:
www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com