After spending seven days in stunned silence among the exiles in Babylon, Ezekiel received a profound calling from God in 593 BC. He was chosen to be a prophet to a particularly rebellious group of people.
As if to solidify his understanding of the gravity of his task, God delivered a message about the role of a watchman.
This theme of the watchman is especially notable because it reappears many chapters later in the book of Ezekiel, with the two watchman passages acting as a set of bookends.
They frame both his initial calling and the messages of judgment he was commissioned to deliver, reinforcing the weight of his responsibility.
At the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me:
Mortal, I have made you a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me (Ezekiel 3.16-17).
A watchman is like an early warning system which is tasked to look out, to spy, and to keep watch. People who were chosen for sentry duty were generally stationed on the lookout towers strategically placed on the walls of the city. Their job involved paying attention to the enemy’s movements.
A watchman’s job was often a lonely one. They couldn’t mingle with the crowds in the city; instead, they stood alone, watching the horizon and listening for signs of danger.
In the same way, if we want to be an early warning for our world, we must step away from the noise and distractions of the crowd. We need to spend time alone with God, be mindful of what’s happening around us, and listen for any message God may have for the people in our lives.
The other watchman passage is found in Ezekiel 33, where an additional verse offers deeper insight into God’s purpose for using the prophet.
Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33.11).
As we apply this to our own lives, it’s important to remember that God’s desire remains the same. He still seeks the life and blessing of the people He loves.
Four Hypothetical Examples
God presented Ezekiel with four hypothetical scenarios to illustrate his role as the nation’s watchman. The first two focused on the wicked.
If I say to the wicked, “You shall surely die,” and you give them no warning, or speak to warn the wicked from their wicked way, in order to save their life, those wicked persons shall die for their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.
But if you warn the wicked, and they do not turn from their wickedness, or from their wicked way, they shall die for their iniquity, but you will have saved your life (Ezekiel 3.18-19).
According to Daniel Block, the message of Ezekiel the wicked are: those “who holds Yahweh, the covenant Lord, in contempt and displays this attitude by willful violation of the covenant stipulations.”
The wicked believe that God’s guidance and direction do not apply to them. They willfully choose to ignore it, convinced that they will never be held accountable for their actions.
Ezekiel faced the daunting task of delivering God’s message of judgment to powerful and wicked individuals. It’s no surprise that God reassured him with the promise of strength, even giving him a name that means “God strengthens” or “God will strengthen.”
We are commissioned by the Lord—not to deliver a message of judgment, but to share the good news. And, just as with Ezekiel, we are accountable for whether or not we fulfill this calling.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28.18-20).
The last two examples given to Ezekiel involved righteous people turning away from God (Ezekiel 3.20-21). The message to Ezekiel remained the same: he was to faithfully deliver God’s word to them. If they listened and responded, they would find life; if they refused, they would face condemnation.
Reflections
When I read the passage about the watchman, I am grateful for the many times I was faithful in delivering God’s message to someone. As a result, God touched their heart and transformed their life, both in the present and for eternity.
Sadly, I can also recall times when I was unfaithful and failed to deliver God’s message. In a few tragic cases, it was the last opportunity I had to speak to that person before they died.
Jesus has called us to share the good news, and it is a tremendous privilege. Unlike Ezekiel, who faced a hostile audience, we have the opportunity to communicate freely.
Let’s be faithful in doing what God has called us to do.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 