Ezekiel 33:1-33
Q.1. What is the duty of a watchman in protecting his people? How did God apply this role to Ezekiel? – (Ezk.33:1-9)
The people and the prophet were familiar with the attacks from the surrounding nations, that could come at any time (Ezk.33:1-2). Watchmen were rostered on, to blow the trumpet and warn the people of an impending attack from the enemy (Ezk.33:2-3). A faithful watchman would fulfill his own responsibility, regardless of the outcome of the battle, if he had alerted the people (Ezk.33:3-5). However, if a watchman failed to warn the people in time – his blood will be on his own head (Ezk.33:4 & 6). God applied these same principles to His prophet, Ezekiel – I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel (Ezk.33:7). He could deliver his soul by faithfully discharging his calling, or the blood of the nation would be on his hands (Ezk.33:7-9).
Q.2. What message did God want to prophet to pass on to His people? Was God’s warning well received? – (Ezk.33:10-20)
The Lord raised up His prophets, as an act of grace to His people. God’s underlying message was – … As I live!’ declares the Lord God,I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’ (Ezk.33:11). He then explained to the prophet that He will condemn even the righteous, if they trust in their own righteousness and then turn from godliness (Ezk.33:12-13). There was hope offered to the wicked, in the event that they turned from their sin to practice justice and righteousness – None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he shall surely live (Ezk.33:16). However, the people criticized Ezekiel’s message – You say, `The way of the Lord is not right.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways’ God will judge people according to their ways and actions.
Q.3. Why was judgment inevitable? What was God’s case against the nation? How did they respond to Ezekiel when he eventually spoke? – (Ezk.33:21-33)
Judah was ripe for God’s judgment. They had acted worse than the nations whom God had dispossessed in order to give them the Promised Land (Ezk.33:25-26). They claimed that they were better qualified than Abraham was, to possess the Land (Ezk.33:24). However, they distinguished themselves with bloodshed and unspeakable abominations, even against the defenceless – Then they will know that I am the Lord when I make the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations which they have committed (Ezk.33:29). They treated God’s prophet as a joke and ‘sensual song’. Therefore God declared – So when it comes to pass (as surely it will) then they will know that a prophet has been in their midst (Ezk.33:33). Those false prophets and faithless priests are long gone. However, we still honour Ezekiel to this very day, as a true prophet of God.