Ezekiel was a prophet in Israel during the first half of the 6th century BCE. This period coincided with the exile of the Israelites in Babylon. The name Ezekiel translates, “God strengthens.” His name was a beautiful promise, because Ezekiel was given a very challenging and dangerous assignment. God instructed him to proclaim a life or death warning to the people of Israel from their God; a warning God knew the people would reject. Ezekiel was a person of integrity and compassion who would carry a great responsibility for the people.
Ezekiel would be called a Watchman—a prophet who walked the walls of the city and warned the people of spiritual dangers and to proclaim God’s message. God wanted his people to flourish, but they were rebellious and stagnant in their spiritual growth. God put obstacles in their way, so people would pause to consider His judgment; yet they had no fear of the Lord.
Preceding our passage today, Ezekiel found himself angry at the attitudes and sins of the people. Before Ezekiel, the people would not listen to Jeremiah; now they will not listen to Ezekiel. But, Ezekiel obeys God and does what he is asked to do, anyway. He mourns the spiritually dead for seven days and he mourns those who will physically lose their lives, but he receives God’s strength to proclaim a warning for the people to repent and turn to God. That is his responsibility. That remains our responsibility, as well.
Ezekiel 3:12-21 NLT
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me. (May the glory of the Lord be praised in his place!) 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living beings as they brushed against each other and the rumbling of their wheels beneath them.
14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the Lord’s hold on me was strong. 15 Then I came to the colony of Judean exiles in Tel-abib, beside the Kebar River. I was overwhelmed and sat among them for seven days.
A Watchman for Israel
16 After seven days the Lord gave me a message. He said, 17 “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately. 18 If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 19 If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.
20 “If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way [put them in a hard place], they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 21 But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the challenging obstacles we may face, because we know they help us stay the course with you. Without your strength and the work of the Holy Spirit, we would never be able to influence people or win souls for the Kingdom. Fill us with compassion and call us to share the amazing work of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.