And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came appointing Ezekiel as a watchman to the house of Israel. The watchman's work was to hear the word at God's mouth and give God's warning to the people, both the wicked and the righteous. The chapter is to be studied as a lesson in depending wholly on God while remembering that God does His work through human agents. The commission requires faithful warning even when people are hard-hearted and may refuse to listen, and remaining silent leaves the messenger responsible for souls in danger. The warning makes the watchman responsible to speak, while each hearer remains accountable for turning from sin.
When God says the wicked shall surely die, if the watchman does not warn him from his wicked way to save his life, the wicked dies in his iniquity but his blood is required at the watchman's hand. If the watchman warns the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness nor from his wicked way, the wicked dies in his iniquity but the watchman has delivered his soul. If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity and the watchman does not warn him, he dies in his sin and his past righteousness is not remembered, but his blood is required at the watchman's hand. If the righteous is warned not to sin and he does not sin, he lives because he was warned, and the watchman has delivered his soul.
The verse begins a charge that makes every man and woman a guard over his own house and family. This means each worker must take his own case before the Lord, examine himself, realize his own weakness and be constantly on guard. Instead he is not to examine the fancied shortcomings of his brother, watching fellow workers with jealousy over their outgoings and incomings, trying to block their way and restricting their liberty. When the Holy Spirit molds hearts and lives there will be confidence in workers struggling with difficulties in hard places. The Lord keeps a report of every soul who would restrict the liberty of another, for there is a Watcher taking the measure of character who will judge accordingly.
At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came appointing Ezekiel as a watchman to the house of Israel. The watchman's work was to hear the word at God's mouth and give God's warning to the people, both the wicked and the righteous. The chapter is to be studied as a lesson in depending wholly on God while remembering that God does His work through human agents. The commission requires faithful warning even when people are hard-hearted and may refuse to listen, and remaining silent leaves the messenger responsible for souls in danger. The warning makes the watchman responsible to speak, while each hearer remains accountable for turning from sin.
When God says the wicked shall surely die, if the watchman does not warn him from his wicked way to save his life, the wicked dies in his iniquity but his blood is required at the watchman's hand. If the watchman warns the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness nor from his wicked way, the wicked dies in his iniquity but the watchman has delivered his soul. If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity and the watchman does not warn him, he dies in his sin and his past righteousness is not remembered, but his blood is required at the watchman's hand. If the righteous is warned not to sin and he does not sin, he lives because he was warned, and the watchman has delivered his soul.
The verse begins a charge that makes every man and woman a guard over his own house and family. This means each worker must take his own case before the Lord, examine himself, realize his own weakness and be constantly on guard. Instead he is not to examine the fancied shortcomings of his brother, watching fellow workers with jealousy over their outgoings and incomings, trying to block their way and restricting their liberty. When the Holy Spirit molds hearts and lives there will be confidence in workers struggling with difficulties in hard places. The Lord keeps a report of every soul who would restrict the liberty of another, for there is a Watcher taking the measure of character who will judge accordingly.