Ezekiel 33: The Watchman's Responsibility and the People's Response
Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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;
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.
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.
Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour’s wife: and shall ye possess the land?
Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.
Then shall they know that I am the Lord, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord.
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
Ezekiel 33 marks a significant turning point in the book. After years of proclaiming judgment against Judah and surrounding nations (Ezekiel 1-32), Ezekiel's message shifts towards restoration. This chapter re-emphasizes Ezekiel's role as a watchman and highlights the people's need to acknowledge their personal responsibility before God. This transition is crucial because, before rebuilding can begin, the rubble of sinful attitudes must be cleared away. God's covenant people were not to be abandoned forever; they were to be brought back to Him.
Ezekiel Recommissioned (33:1-9)
For seven years, Ezekiel had been largely silent, speaking only when delivering a direct prophetic oracle (Ezekiel 3:26-27). This silence, part of his initial commission (Ezekiel 3:16), ended with the fall of Jerusalem. God recommissions Ezekiel, signifying the change in his message (33:21-22). The message now will be one of restoration, but first, the people must understand their accountability.
God appoints Ezekiel as Israel’s watchman, responsible for warning of impending danger by blowing the trumpet (Ezekiel 33:2-3). This role carries immense weight. If someone ignores the warning and perishes, they bear the responsibility for their own death. However, if the watchman fails to sound the alarm, he will be held accountable for the lives lost (Ezekiel 33:4-9). This illustrates the personal responsibility of both the prophet and the people who hear his message.
This principle extends to spiritual leaders today. They are called to faithfully warn God’s people of His judgment against sin and to call them to repentance. This is a sacred duty, and leaders will be held accountable for how they fulfill it.
Repentance and Forgiveness Offered (33:10-16)
The weight of Ezekiel's message finally begins to penetrate the hearts of the Israelites. They acknowledge their transgressions and sins as the cause of their suffering, despairingly asking, "How then can we survive?" (Ezekiel 33:10). God, through Ezekiel, offers comfort and hope: He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked and offers forgiveness (Ezekiel 33:11).
Ezekiel delivers a crucial message: being righteous before God is based on faith that manifests itself in righteous actions. This is an invitation to repent from sin and to do what is just and right (Ezekiel 33:14). The exiles needed to hear and heed this message. Sadly, many enjoyed listening to Ezekiel, but failed to put his words into practice (Ezekiel 33:31). They were like those who express faith on Sunday but live differently throughout the week, paying lip service to God's kingdom but pursuing their own agendas.
God's Justice and Personal Responsibility (33:17-20)
The Israelites continued to blame God for unfairness, a form of blasphemy where the created accuses the Creator. Ezekiel rebukes this, reminding them that their own ways, not God’s injustice, led to their judgment. It was their actions that brought them to this point.
News of Jerusalem's Fall and Continued Rebellion (33:21-29)
A survivor arrives in Babylon with the devastating news: Jerusalem has fallen (Ezekiel 33:21). This marks a turning point, yet the Lord had already opened Ezekiel's mouth the evening before (Ezekiel 33:22), preparing him for the next phase of his ministry.
The word of the Lord (Ezekiel 33:23) addresses both those who remained in the land after Jerusalem's fall and the exiles in Babylon. Those hiding among the ruins in Israel, claiming to be the righteous remnant and heirs to Abraham's covenant, were living in denial (Ezekiel 33:24). They believed they could "name and claim" their inheritance despite their sin.
God rejects their claim, pointing out their broken covenant and reliance on themselves rather than on Him (Ezekiel 33:25-26). They had not escaped judgment; the same fate that befell the rest of Jerusalem would eventually overtake them (Ezekiel 33:27-29).
Hearing vs. Doing: The Exiles' Dilemma (33:30-33)
While the exiles in Babylon listened to Ezekiel, their fundamental problem mirrored that of those in Judah: a failure to put God’s Word into practice. Ezekiel’s "congregation" grew as news spread that he was now speaking freely (Ezekiel 33:30). People flocked to hear God’s words through him, but they did not obey them (Ezekiel 33:31).
A day of reckoning is coming (Ezekiel 33:33), a time when all will stand before God to be judged. On that day, Ezekiel’s hearers would know that he had spoken the truth. This serves as a powerful reminder that merely hearing God's word is not enough; true faith is demonstrated through obedience and transformed lives.
Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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;
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.
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.
Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour’s wife: and shall ye possess the land?
Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.
Then shall they know that I am the Lord, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord.
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
Ezekiel 33 marks a significant turning point in the book. After years of proclaiming judgment against Judah and surrounding nations (Ezekiel 1-32), Ezekiel's message shifts towards restoration. This chapter re-emphasizes Ezekiel's role as a watchman and highlights the people's need to acknowledge their personal responsibility before God. This transition is crucial because, before rebuilding can begin, the rubble of sinful attitudes must be cleared away. God's covenant people were not to be abandoned forever; they were to be brought back to Him.
Ezekiel Recommissioned (33:1-9)
For seven years, Ezekiel had been largely silent, speaking only when delivering a direct prophetic oracle (Ezekiel 3:26-27). This silence, part of his initial commission (Ezekiel 3:16), ended with the fall of Jerusalem. God recommissions Ezekiel, signifying the change in his message (33:21-22). The message now will be one of restoration, but first, the people must understand their accountability.
God appoints Ezekiel as Israel’s watchman, responsible for warning of impending danger by blowing the trumpet (Ezekiel 33:2-3). This role carries immense weight. If someone ignores the warning and perishes, they bear the responsibility for their own death. However, if the watchman fails to sound the alarm, he will be held accountable for the lives lost (Ezekiel 33:4-9). This illustrates the personal responsibility of both the prophet and the people who hear his message.
This principle extends to spiritual leaders today. They are called to faithfully warn God’s people of His judgment against sin and to call them to repentance. This is a sacred duty, and leaders will be held accountable for how they fulfill it.
Repentance and Forgiveness Offered (33:10-16)
The weight of Ezekiel's message finally begins to penetrate the hearts of the Israelites. They acknowledge their transgressions and sins as the cause of their suffering, despairingly asking, "How then can we survive?" (Ezekiel 33:10). God, through Ezekiel, offers comfort and hope: He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked and offers forgiveness (Ezekiel 33:11).
Ezekiel delivers a crucial message: being righteous before God is based on faith that manifests itself in righteous actions. This is an invitation to repent from sin and to do what is just and right (Ezekiel 33:14). The exiles needed to hear and heed this message. Sadly, many enjoyed listening to Ezekiel, but failed to put his words into practice (Ezekiel 33:31). They were like those who express faith on Sunday but live differently throughout the week, paying lip service to God's kingdom but pursuing their own agendas.
God's Justice and Personal Responsibility (33:17-20)
The Israelites continued to blame God for unfairness, a form of blasphemy where the created accuses the Creator. Ezekiel rebukes this, reminding them that their own ways, not God’s injustice, led to their judgment. It was their actions that brought them to this point.
News of Jerusalem's Fall and Continued Rebellion (33:21-29)
A survivor arrives in Babylon with the devastating news: Jerusalem has fallen (Ezekiel 33:21). This marks a turning point, yet the Lord had already opened Ezekiel's mouth the evening before (Ezekiel 33:22), preparing him for the next phase of his ministry.
The word of the Lord (Ezekiel 33:23) addresses both those who remained in the land after Jerusalem's fall and the exiles in Babylon. Those hiding among the ruins in Israel, claiming to be the righteous remnant and heirs to Abraham's covenant, were living in denial (Ezekiel 33:24). They believed they could "name and claim" their inheritance despite their sin.
God rejects their claim, pointing out their broken covenant and reliance on themselves rather than on Him (Ezekiel 33:25-26). They had not escaped judgment; the same fate that befell the rest of Jerusalem would eventually overtake them (Ezekiel 33:27-29).
Hearing vs. Doing: The Exiles' Dilemma (33:30-33)
While the exiles in Babylon listened to Ezekiel, their fundamental problem mirrored that of those in Judah: a failure to put God’s Word into practice. Ezekiel’s "congregation" grew as news spread that he was now speaking freely (Ezekiel 33:30). People flocked to hear God’s words through him, but they did not obey them (Ezekiel 33:31).
A day of reckoning is coming (Ezekiel 33:33), a time when all will stand before God to be judged. On that day, Ezekiel’s hearers would know that he had spoken the truth. This serves as a powerful reminder that merely hearing God's word is not enough; true faith is demonstrated through obedience and transformed lives.