1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, 3and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, 4then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. 5Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. 6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’
7“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die foratheir sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved. (Ezekiel 33)
Thoughts: Ezekiel spoke to a people who were not listening to his call to repent and come to God. God came to Ezekiel and told him that he would be like a watchman looking out for danger. The watchman's responsibility is to tell the people of danger- not to absolutely persuade them that the danger is coming. Some think that because they are not skilled orators or persuaders, that they have nothing to say to their neighbors. But as God told Ezekiel- I have appointed you to sound out my message- whether they listen or not. If watchmen did not warn people, then they were not doing their job.
We are all sent up on the watchtower. We can see the danger ahead if we do not start living right. The danger is not only found in not pleasing our Maker- that should be enough- and would mean we would lose His blessing. But the other danger is a growth of pride, a growth of immorality, a lack of trust and hope, a growth in selfishness and lack of altruism. When God is forsaken- generations rebel against each other, distrust, division, and detestation happen.
Our call is to speak even if no one listens. We are sent to be watchmen on the wall. We are sent to speak out. The radar man at Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 saw the Japanese planes coming- and sent the warning in. But no one listened. There were some warnings of the 9-1-1 attacks- but no one listened and those who suspected did not sound their warning loud enough. Our task is to warn people of the dangers we see- and hope & pray they listen.
We are all sent up on the watchtower. We can see the danger ahead if we do not start living right. The danger is not only found in not pleasing our Maker- that should be enough- and would mean we would lose His blessing. But the other danger is a growth of pride, a growth of immorality, a lack of trust and hope, a growth in selfishness and lack of altruism. When God is forsaken- generations rebel against each other, distrust, division, and detestation happen.
Our call is to speak even if no one listens. We are sent to be watchmen on the wall. We are sent to speak out. The radar man at Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 saw the Japanese planes coming- and sent the warning in. But no one listened. There were some warnings of the 9-1-1 attacks- but no one listened and those who suspected did not sound their warning loud enough. Our task is to warn people of the dangers we see- and hope & pray they listen.
Prayer: Lord, when we see wrong, do not let us be silent. Help us to see and hear what needs to be seen and heard. Give us grace to do your will.
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