November 23rd, 2025: Ezekiel's Responsibility | Ezekiel 33:7-16

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

The setting of Ezekiel chapter thirty-three is in the time after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians and the burning of the temple. The prophetic words written by Jeremiah and Ezekiel have been fulfilled in the violent aftermath of the attack. Interestingly, God also told of the coming destruction of those nations that joined Babylon to hurt the Jews, as well as of the Babylonian empire itself.

 Ezekiel was among the captives in Babylon when God gave him a different revelation.  God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel about things yet to come for the nation of Israel. The message turned from being about Jerusalem’s destruction to a vision of how God would rebuild a  future kingdom.  His people would return to the land.  God would also share with Ezekiel a prophecy concerning yet another kingdom,  the millennial kingdom of Christ.  In his vision, he saw God seated on the throne of David, in righteousness and truth. Instead of the ruin of his homeland being the end of the story, Ezekiel was writing the next chapters to be read and trusted by future believers.  God knows our past, He is constant in our present, and He owns our futures. There was much more to tell and much more for God’s people to prepare for! 

So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

God gave Ezekiel a vision of himself as a watchman standing atop the wall of his city.  Imagine the grief and shame of lost independence, the harsh reality of oppression in a pagan country.  There wasn’t a city to guard anymore, but God reminded Ezekiel that the responsibility for warning His people was not over.  Whether or not they listened to God’s word was their responsibility, but whether or not he spoke it, was Ezekiel’s responsibility.  

How hopeless, forsaken, and ruined they must have felt.  If they were being honest, a feeling of guilt and grief would have been appropriate. The angst of being out of God’s will and of bearing the consequences of our own actions  weighs very  heavy. The consequences of sin are even worse. Israel was not beyond God’s redemption, and neither are you, turn to God while there is still opportunity, confess your sin, and listen to His word.  Those who put their trust in him, “shall never be ashamed.” 

 God shared with Ezekiel new words of hope.  Hope for a future kingdom.  Hope for a restored Jerusalem.  A promise that the captives would once again, live in their own land.  The same land that God promised to their fathers. “A prophet greater than Moses” would still arrive in time.  A King from the lineage of David would still come to sit upon the throne.   A descendant of Abraham would still bless the whole world.  Ezekiel had a very important job to do.  He would continue to  hear the words of the Lord and he spoke them bringing hope to those in captivity. He would continue to be a watchman for his people! 

When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Our pastor used to say, “I’m preaching for my life.”  He did not mean that preaching the gospel would get him to Heaven, but that the calling of God was permanent and serious.  There would be consequences for neglecting that calling.  Ezekiel’s job was very serious and there would be consequences for him if he neglected to do it. God told Ezekiel that his words would  be received by some, like a beautiful song.  They would hear the words and be pleased with the idea.  The same message would be rejected by others, they would not allow the word of God to penetrate their evil hearts. 

Why would they resist the message?  Because the God who would be their restorative virtuous king is the same God who had judged their sin and brought about their punishment.  A.W. Tozer said, “We often treat Jesus the way that Saul treated David.  We want him to slay giants and sing away evil spirits but we don’t want him to be king.” 

The world wants a God they can keep in their pockets and bring out as a lucky charm, but our God sits on a throne High and Lifted Up, He rules the universe and judges the nations.  

Ezekiel’s job is not to change their hearts, that is between the individual and God.  God won’t hold Ezekiel accountable for the number who respond, Ezekiel’s job is to tell them.  Isn’t that the same job each of us are called to do?  We should not measure the success of the church by how many make a profession of faith, although that is a good thing.  Instead, are we telling them, not our opinion, because it will help no one, but the word of God.  How many attend yet still leave unmindful of Christ?  Not my responsibility, or yours.  We invite, we speak the word, we pray and we respond personally, becoming a light to those around us.  That is the job of the watchman.  God is very specific.  If Ezekiel does not warn the wicked, the blood of the wicked is on his hands when they die and enter eternal punishment.  Shouldn’t that motivate us as believers, to do all we can to warn those around us?

Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

God tells Ezekiel to speak to the house of his people.  Apply this to your role today and, “bloom where you are planted.”  Ezekiel’s purpose was not to minister to the Babylonians, but to the house of Israel.  He was to speak to his family and friends and help them understand and endure through this time.  Ezekiel has proven himself to be a true prophet.  His prophesies were true and they happened just as the Lord had said they would.  Don’t misunderstand.  There is a place for world wide missionary work; however, that does not take away from the responsibility to reach out to those around us every day.  The missionary field is the place your feet are on, in our own houses and in our own towns. 

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Isn’t it interesting that people, yet today, have a very wrong opinion about God.  Many think of Him as the “ man upstairs”, worse a cosmic vending machine  or a casual buddy.  Others  feel God just waits for us to mess up so  he can zap us with punishment and toss us aside all together.  Still others think God is not capable of sending consequences or punishment for sinful actions.   

Scripture shares with us what God  himself reveals about his own personality.  He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.  He desires that they turn to him and live. The New Testament says: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.(2Peter 3:9) and don’t forget For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).

Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

If you are counting on your own personal goodness to assure your safety, you’re doomed.  Contrary wise, if you think you are past the power of repentance and forgiveness, you are also incorrect.  You can’t be good enough to save yourself and you can’t be bad enough that God won’t save you if you turn to Him.  God wants to know you and to be known by you.  He requires your trust, deals with your sin, and makes a way for the humble and the faithful to make Heaven their home.  Safety and assurance come from surrendering to Him your heart.

13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

If someone sins against us, we remember.  We look at them differently, we treat them differently.  When someone sins against God, and all sin is ultimately against Him, He will forgive.  When He forgives, he doesn’t look at us sideways.  Forgiveness is complete.  We are fully accepted in His sight. To be forgiven you have to humble yourself, confess it, change direction, and life for God.  If someone thinks they don’t need His forgiveness, they are in an even worse condition, they have exchanged their goodness for Christ’s grace and they will never come close to the perfection required.

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!