Eze 33:6 | KingComments | STEP | With Ezekiel 33 begins the fourth main section of this book (Ezekiel 33-39). This section deals with the future glory of Israel and can be divided as follows: 1. The faithful watchman and the faithful Shepherd (Ezekiel 33-34). 2. A renewed land (Ezekiel 35-36). 3. A renewed people (Ezekiel 37). 4. Extermination of the last enemy (Ezekiel 38-39). Here, after the announcements of judgment on seven hostile nations, Ezekiel again resumes his task as a prophet concerning God’s people. The word of the LORD comes to him ( ). The LORD again reminds him of his responsibility as a watchman ( ; ). His earlier warnings of the coming of judgment by the king of Babylon, have come true, but the heart of the people has not been changed by it. Hence, new judgments and especially the final judgment await the unrepentant, and hence Ezekiel must continue to warn. We, too, are never done warning people of the judgment to come, even though there have been so many more judgmental acts of God. Ezekiel is to address the word to his fellow citizens and again present to them the righteousness of the LORD. He must do this by using an example from everyday life that can be understood by everyone. When the LORD announces that He is bringing the sword, that a hostile people are approaching, it is a good thing for the people to appoint a watchman. They choose someone from their area who is trustworthy and knows the area. When that man sees the enemy coming, he will blow an alarm on the trumpet, warning the people that the enemy is coming ( ; cf. ). Two responses are possible to the blowing of the trumpet: ignore or listen. He who does not heed the sound of the trumpet and is killed has only to blame himself ( ). He has been stubborn and did not take warning ( ). It is his own fault that he was killed. However, he who he takes warning is not killed, but delivers his life. It is also possible that the watchman is unfaithful and does not blow the trumpet when he sees the sword coming ( ). Such a watchman is a coward or a traitor. He thinks only of himself and flees to save himself or conspires with the enemy. When the sword comes and kills people, those people do die in their own iniquity, but the watchman is guilty. Judgment comes irrevocably. People who perish have themselves to blame because they have lived in iniquity, but the watchman also has his responsibility. God has no pleasure in punishing people. Therefore, He makes them warn. If the watchman does not warn, He will require the blood of his hand. We recognize this kind of watchman in our day in preachers who preach only love, but do not give warning of judgment or even deny judgment. They are traitors and colluding with the enemy of God. People who listen to these preachers perish in their own iniquity, but the preachers will be called to account by God and judged for their negligence. Then the LORD addresses the word to Ezekiel personally and says to him that He has appointed him a watchman over the house of Israel ( ). This shows a difference from the watchman of the previous verses, for he was appointed by the people ( ). Ezekiel is to act as a faithful watchman, warning Israel on behalf of the LORD. The LORD holds up to him the great responsibility that this task entails. He tells him that judgment on the wicked is determined, but also that the wicked must be warned ( ). If Ezekiel does not warn the wicked, he is guilty of the judgment that strikes the wicked. That wicked person does die in and because of his own iniquity, but Ezekiel is blamed for not warning him. If Ezekiel did warn the wicked, but the wicked does nothing with that warning, then Ezekiel is free from the blood of the wicked and he has delivered his own life ( ; cf. ; ). The responsibility of the watchman is strongly emphasized.

‏ Ezekiel 33:6

Introduction

With Ezekiel 33 begins the fourth main section of this book (Ezekiel 33-39). This section deals with the future glory of Israel and can be divided as follows:

1. The faithful watchman and the faithful Shepherd (Ezekiel 33-34).

2. A renewed land (Ezekiel 35-36).

3. A renewed people (Ezekiel 37).

4. Extermination of the last enemy (Ezekiel 38-39).

The Duty of the Watchman

Here, after the announcements of judgment on seven hostile nations, Ezekiel again resumes his task as a prophet concerning God’s people. The word of the LORD comes to him (Eze 33:1). The LORD again reminds him of his responsibility as a watchman (Eze 33:2; Eze 3:16-21). His earlier warnings of the coming of judgment by the king of Babylon, have come true, but the heart of the people has not been changed by it. Hence, new judgments and especially the final judgment await the unrepentant, and hence Ezekiel must continue to warn. We, too, are never done warning people of the judgment to come, even though there have been so many more judgmental acts of God.

Ezekiel is to address the word to his fellow citizens and again present to them the righteousness of the LORD. He must do this by using an example from everyday life that can be understood by everyone. When the LORD announces that He is bringing the sword, that a hostile people are approaching, it is a good thing for the people to appoint a watchman. They choose someone from their area who is trustworthy and knows the area. When that man sees the enemy coming, he will blow an alarm on the trumpet, warning the people that the enemy is coming (Eze 33:3; cf. Amos 3:6a).

Two responses are possible to the blowing of the trumpet: ignore or listen. He who does not heed the sound of the trumpet and is killed has only to blame himself (Eze 33:4). He has been stubborn and did not take warning (Eze 33:5). It is his own fault that he was killed. However, he who he takes warning is not killed, but delivers his life.

It is also possible that the watchman is unfaithful and does not blow the trumpet when he sees the sword coming (Eze 33:6). Such a watchman is a coward or a traitor. He thinks only of himself and flees to save himself or conspires with the enemy. When the sword comes and kills people, those people do die in their own iniquity, but the watchman is guilty. Judgment comes irrevocably. People who perish have themselves to blame because they have lived in iniquity, but the watchman also has his responsibility.

God has no pleasure in punishing people. Therefore, He makes them warn. If the watchman does not warn, He will require the blood of his hand. We recognize this kind of watchman in our day in preachers who preach only love, but do not give warning of judgment or even deny judgment. They are traitors and colluding with the enemy of God. People who listen to these preachers perish in their own iniquity, but the preachers will be called to account by God and judged for their negligence.

Then the LORD addresses the word to Ezekiel personally and says to him that He has appointed him a watchman over the house of Israel (Eze 33:7). This shows a difference from the watchman of the previous verses, for he was appointed by the people (Eze 33:2). Ezekiel is to act as a faithful watchman, warning Israel on behalf of the LORD. The LORD holds up to him the great responsibility that this task entails. He tells him that judgment on the wicked is determined, but also that the wicked must be warned (Eze 33:8).

If Ezekiel does not warn the wicked, he is guilty of the judgment that strikes the wicked. That wicked person does die in and because of his own iniquity, but Ezekiel is blamed for not warning him. If Ezekiel did warn the wicked, but the wicked does nothing with that warning, then Ezekiel is free from the blood of the wicked and he has delivered his own life (Eze 33:9; cf. Acts 20:26-27; 1Cor 9:16). The responsibility of the watchman is strongly emphasized.