Scripture
Ezekiel 33:1-9 (ESV)
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.
7 “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
7 “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
Devotional #109: Ezekiel - "Israel’s Watchman"
The Lord returns to address Ezekiel concerning his role as a prophet. Like a watchman (cf. 3:16-21) standing guard, he is to warn Israel of their wickedness. This role is not to be taken lightly. If Ezekiel refuses to speak the Lord’s word, then their blood is on his hands. If he is obedient, then he may save a person if they turn away.
Being a prophet is not an easy task. No one wants to hear that they are sinning against the Lord. So, he may be tempted to remain silent to avoid conflict. But if he speaks the Lord’s word, he also knows that a majority will not listen and even hate him for pointing out their wrongdoings. The prophet’s duty is to be obedient to God even amid opposition.
In our church today, we have Elders who are our Watchmen. They are charged to protect the church from false teaching and to address issues that may affect the purity and peace of the church. Let us pray for them that they may fear the Lord and shepherd with wisdom.
Being a prophet is not an easy task. No one wants to hear that they are sinning against the Lord. So, he may be tempted to remain silent to avoid conflict. But if he speaks the Lord’s word, he also knows that a majority will not listen and even hate him for pointing out their wrongdoings. The prophet’s duty is to be obedient to God even amid opposition.
In our church today, we have Elders who are our Watchmen. They are charged to protect the church from false teaching and to address issues that may affect the purity and peace of the church. Let us pray for them that they may fear the Lord and shepherd with wisdom.
Question
Why is it so difficult to be a prophet?
*Pray for the Elders of CCPC.
*Pray for the Elders of CCPC.
Scripture
Ezekiel 33:10-20 (ESV)
10 “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ 11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
12 “And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness[a] when he sins. 13 Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. 14 Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, 15 if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 16 None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.
17 “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just. 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. 19 And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this. 20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”
12 “And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness[a] when he sins. 13 Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. 14 Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, 15 if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 16 None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.
17 “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just. 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. 19 And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this. 20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”
Devotional #110: Ezekiel - "We Are All Responsible"
God reminds Israel again that He is just in issuing his punishment. God does not delight in the death of the wicked (v.12), but he must be true to His holiness (cf. 18:19-29). People complain that God is not just instead of recognizing their sin and confessing them.
John repeats this refrain in 1 John 1:8, “If we say we have not sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Be encouraged, because God will forgive when we confess our sins. So, let us not make excuses or place blame on others for our sins. Rather, let us be quick to recognize our unrighteousness, and the Lord likewise will be quick to forgive.
John repeats this refrain in 1 John 1:8, “If we say we have not sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Be encouraged, because God will forgive when we confess our sins. So, let us not make excuses or place blame on others for our sins. Rather, let us be quick to recognize our unrighteousness, and the Lord likewise will be quick to forgive.
Questions
- Why is God just in issuing his punishments?
- Why are we reluctantly to confess our wrongdoings? Pray to the Lord for His mercy.
Scripture
Ezekiel 33:21-33 (ESV)
21 In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has been struck down.” 22 Now the hand of the Lord had been upon me the evening before the fugitive came; and he had opened my mouth by the time the man came to me in the morning, so my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.
23 The word of the Lord came to me: 24 “Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’ 25 Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: You eat flesh with the blood and lift up your eyes to your idols and shed blood; shall you then possess the land? 26 You rely on the sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife; shall you then possess the land? 27 Say this to them, Thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely those who are in the waste places shall fall by the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence. 28 And I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and her proud might shall come to an end, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that none will pass through. 29 Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed.
30 “As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ 31 And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. 32 And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays[a] well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. 33 When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
23 The word of the Lord came to me: 24 “Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’ 25 Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: You eat flesh with the blood and lift up your eyes to your idols and shed blood; shall you then possess the land? 26 You rely on the sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife; shall you then possess the land? 27 Say this to them, Thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely those who are in the waste places shall fall by the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence. 28 And I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and her proud might shall come to an end, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that none will pass through. 29 Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed.
30 “As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ 31 And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. 32 And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays[a] well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. 33 When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
Devotional #111: Ezekiel - "Fall of Jerusalem"
Jerusalem has fallen. It is 585 BC and the prophecies of Ezekiel have come to pass. God reiterates their unrighteousness. Those in Israel believe that they should have the land since Abraham was their forefather, presuming on God’s grace. Yet their life of idolatry is a stench unto the Lord. Those in exile continue to come see Ezekiel perform his sign-acts and declare his prophecies, but they treat him as entertainment, not seriously, for they neither weep nor repent.
Now that Jerusalem has fallen, God will enact His plan to bring salvation to His people and creation. We wait on God to see the mighty acts He will do.
Now that Jerusalem has fallen, God will enact His plan to bring salvation to His people and creation. We wait on God to see the mighty acts He will do.
Questions
- Do you think the fall of Jerusalem will soften Israel’s heart? Do you think they will repent?
- What are the more memorable stories of the first half of Ezekiel?