786_God’s Watchman (Ezekiel 3:16-27)
Ezekiel 3:16-21 And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”
In the olden days, once it became dark the city gates would close. The people of the city would be asleep. Yet high above, on the city walls, stood the watchmen.
The watchman’s task was simple but very serious: it was to stay awake and keep watch on the darkness surrounding the city. If he caught a glimpse of anything dangerous, he was to sound the alert at once. He was not a warrior. He could not force the people to heed his warning. But he could be faithful on his watch.
This was the assignment that God gave Ezekiel. The Lord told him, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.”
Living among the exiles in Babylon, Ezekiel was to speak God’s message to the house of Israel, words of warning that should have led to their repentance and salvation.
Ezekiel did not appoint himself as a watchman. Nobody can claim the right to judge and criticize others, to put themselves above others, unless God has given them that responsibility and equipped them with wisdom and discernment. The watchman is not in authority; rather, he is the servant of the people.
Whenever God gives us an opportunity to influence another person’s life—whether as a parent, spouse, friend, teacher, pastor, colleague or fellow believer—there may be moments when He calls us to watch over their soul.
But the watchman must first learn to listen to God. The Lord tells him, “Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” The watchman’s warnings are not based on his personal opinions or preferences. He does not invent causes of alarm. He listens diligently and passes on the Lord’s warnings.
The world is filled with opinions. Everyone has something to say about how others should live. But God’s watchman must learn the difference between saying I think and God has said. We are called to know God’s Word, submit ourselves to it and speak it faithfully when He gives us the opportunity.
Ezekiel is not watching for an approaching army of invaders. It is sin that is the enemy. God says, “If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning…” The watchman warns against the imminent danger of spiritual death because of wickedness – determined opposition to the will of God.
A watchman doesn’t concern himself with whether he is interfering with someone’s comfort, success or reputation. His warning is concerned about approaching judgment and the need to warn those in danger because of their sin.
Sin rarely proclaims itself loudly. It begins all too often as a slow and progressive drift from the love of God into the love of the world. Secret enmity, unforgiveness, harshness, ingratitude, ambition, pride, and idolatry all begin quietly. But all end in death. What we need most at such times is the warning of God’s watchmen.
Warning someone about sin is not the same as condemning them as outcasts. The purpose is not to say, “You are beyond hope.” It is to say, “Repent, turn around and come back to God while there is still time.”
If the watchman refuses to warn the wicked, God will hold him accountable for the death of the wicked. If the wicked refuses to repent and dies in his sin despite the watchman’s faithful warning, the responsibility for his death rests solely on his own head.
For God’s servants are responsible for their obedience, not for results.
How often we become discouraged because we measure our obedience by results. We pray for someone but see no change. We warn a friend about something concerning but are ignored. We share the gospel but are met with indifference.
Ezekiel could warn people, but he could not control their response. The Lord forewarned him that they might either hear or refuse to hear. His responsibility was to remain faithful, without falling into the same sin that the people were in: that of rebellion, refusing to obey the voice of the Lord
The Lord had already told Ezekiel, “Be not rebellious like that rebellious house.” God’s watchman must guard his own heart. He must resist the temptation to fear people or please them rather than remaining faithful to his call.
On a larger scale, we need to take the log out of our own eye before we try to take out the speck from someone else’s eye. Let us examine our own heart for pride before speaking to someone else about their pride. Let us be careful that we do not judge others for sins that we are trapped in.
So Paul warned Timothy: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.” Our work for the Lord begins with guarding ourselves.
And the underlying reason for it all is love. A watchman knows how much God loves his people, and therefore passes on the warning with all the skill and force he can bring to his task. He speaks even when the warning is unwelcome. Proverbs 27:5–6 says, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”
For sometimes silence is not kindness. Sometimes the easiest thing is to say nothing, offend nobody, and tell ourselves it’s none of our business. We plead that we don’t want to damage a relationship.
But think again of the watchman on the city wall. When he sees danger approaching and remains silent, he is not showing compassion. Instead, he has failed.
Ezekiel was a watchman who warned people about judgment. But finally God sent us his own Son. The Lord is more than a watchman. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.
He not only warned of the coming danger, but went down into the pit to rescue those doomed to death. More than that, he is the resurrection and the life. He not only taught about God’s way of life, but said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
When God’s watchman stands watch over God’s people, they not only point out sin, but point to Christ the Savior. The purpose of exposing sin is to lead the sinner to God’s grace. The word of judgment is meant to awaken people to seek life in Christ.
Let us ask ourselves whom God has set within our circle of influence or asked us to warn. It could be a child who needs patient correction. It might be a friend who is drifting spiritually. It could be someone trapped in a destructive habit. It could be someone who has never understood the gospel.
We cannot change their hearts or force them to listen. But we can pray that they hear and understand and receive the word. We can listen to God and receive his truth into our own hearts and lives. And as opportunity and responsibility are given, we must faithfully sound the alarm.
Let us watch our own hearts. Let us be sensitive to sin, quick to repent and humble enough to accept correction.
Let us speak with courage when silence would be unfaithful. Let us be guided by God’s wisdom in speaking the warning. Let us humbly warn without condemning. Let us lovingly point to the way out in Christ our Lord.
For the greatest message of God’s watchman is not simply, “Danger is coming.” It is “Turn to the Lord. There is mercy and forgiveness and life in Christ.” God bless.
Take a few moments to reflect on these questions
What does being a “watchman for the soul” mean in the relationships and circumstances God has placed around you?
Why is it important to listen carefully to God’s Word and examine our own lives before attempting to warn or correct others?
How can you lovingly warn someone who may be moving toward spiritual danger while still pointing them toward the mercy, forgiveness and hope found in Christ?
Let us pray
Heavenly Father, I need to watch over my own soul and over those you have entrusted to me. I must listen carefully to your voice and faithfully communicate your warnings. Give me wisdom for this task, courage and humility to warn when you ask me to, and love towards you and towards my people. Let me point them always towards your Son, our Savior. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen
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