In Ezekiel 33, God renewed Ezekiel's commission as a prophet. Up to chapter 25, Ezekiel's prophecies were given before the final fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. In the second part of the book, Ezekiel's prophecies were to his people in exile, where he told them to live in expectancy of the future.

Ezekiel was a contemporary of Jeremiah and Daniel. He was taken captive during Babylon's second invasion of Jerusalem during the reign of young King Jehoiachin, who had been reigning for only 3 months (2 Chronicles 36:9). There was a 12 year period between the second invasion and final invasion by the Babylonians. False prophets were trying to assure the people that Jerusalem would not fall, but it did fall to the enemy and was destroyed just as God's prophets had foretold.

THE ANCIENT WATCHMAN

God likened Ezekiel to the watchman of a city in this recommissioning. In the ancient world, most major cities were protected by large, formidable walls. Authorities selected a watchman to look for invaders from the top of the wall (vs.2). At the first sign of approaching danger, he was to blow the trumpet and warn the people (vs. 3). If the watchman sounded the warning and the people did not respond, then their blood was on their own head (vs.4). The individual who took the warning seriously would deliver himself from imminent danger (vs. 5). If the watchman saw danger and did not sound the warning, and someone was killed or captured, then the watchman was to be held personally responsible.

THE PROPHETIC WATCHMAN

In verses 7-12, God was saying to Ezekiel that just as a city watchman was responsible to warn the inhabitants of the city of danger, so Ezekiel was responsible to warn his people to turn from their sins. God's prophet had two responsibilities. He was to hear God's Word and then pass God's warning to the people (vs. 7). If God gave a stern warning concerning the people's wickedness and Ezekiel failed to pass that on to the people, the wicked would die in his wickedness, but God would hold His watchman personally responsible for not sounding the warning. 'His blood will I require at their hand.' (vs. 8) If Ezekiel warned the wicked to turn from their sin and they refused to listen, the wicked would die in his sin but God would not hold His watchman responsible for their judgment (vs. 9).

THE CHRISTIAN WATCHMAN

How does this apply to the Christian in the Church age? God makes it very clear that He is not willing that any should perish, but that all that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Just as God had His watchman in the Old Testament time period, He has His watchman today. Every born again child of God is part of that chosen generation to show forth God's praises to a lost generation (1 Peter 2:9). The responsibilities and ramifications of God's watchmen in Ezekiel's day hold true for us today.

Paul saw himself as God's watchman. ''I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.'' Romans 1:14-15 ''Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.'' Colossians 1:28.

While we cannot force people to repent from their sins, God will hold us responsible if we do not warn them. Their blood will be on our hands! Regardless of how people respond, we must be faithful as watchman in warning and witnessing. Noah preached and warned for 120 years and only reached his family. Jeremiah preached, warned and wept, but the people would not listen. He remained faithful as God's watchman anyway.

Ezekiel was to warn whether the people listened or not.

''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 33:30-33.

Spiritual Blindness

''But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.'' 2 Peter 1:9. If we fail to be diligent in adding virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity to our faith (2 Peter 1:5-7), we will end up in spiritual blindness, and will fail miserably in being the watchman God wants us to be!

Getting Sidetracked

''Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.'' Colossians 3:2. In this affluent, materialistic society, it is very easy to get our roots down in the here and now. Instead of this world being a battleground for truth and righteousness, many believers today see it as a playground to settle down and to ''be at ease in Zion.'' Rather than being a stranger and pilgrim in a foreign land, a number of God's people have settled into a comfort zone and are very content with calling this time on earth as home. Money, possessions, houses, lands, clothing, retirement, vacations, entertainment, television, internet, videos, sports, families, and friends dominate the thinking and time of the average believer today. Paul lamented this self-centered lifestyle in his day. ''For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ''s.'' Philippians 2:21. One of Paul's closest companions, Demas, forsook him, ''having loved this present world.''

We also must avoid getting sidetracked from our duty as watchman by our busy schedules, or riding our 'hobby horses' or even from ecclesiastical warfare that is so common among God's people today.

Spiritual Apathy

'And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.' Romans 13:11. The Lord Jesus told the Apostle John in Rev. 3:16, that lukewarmness makes God sick, 'I will spue thee out of my mouth.' Our generation is plagued with indifference and complacency and this awful condition is prevalent among those who name the name of Christ. Churches are crippled by church members who are spiritually asleep. Pastors are discouraged and frustrated by members who will not lift a finger to help in the ministry of the church or in the furtherance of the Gospel. How it must grieve the heart of God to see His children satisfied with themselves and go week after week without changing or responding to the preaching of God's Word or the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Only Being Alert at Certain Times

'Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.' 1 Peter 3:15 'But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.' 2 Timothy 4:2. There is never a time for spiritual vacation in the life of a believer!

An Uncertain Sound

'For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle'' 1 Corinthians 14:8. Does your life match your message' How confused the lost are when they see professing believers preach the message of salvation, but then live, talk, dress, think and act just like the lost around them.

Trusting in the Power of the Flesh

''For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.' Galatians 6:8. 'And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.' Ephesians 5:18. 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.' Ephesians 6:10. 'Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.' Zechariah 4:6. Let us not be guilty of being God's watchman in the power of our own flesh. I fear that much damage is being done in God's work today because so much is being done in the flesh rather than in the Spirit.

Being Undiscerning

''Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.' 1 Peter 5:8. Much care must be taken so we do not get caught up in wrong doctrine or get snared by the wiles of the devil.

Lack of Bible Knowledge

''Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' 2 Timothy 2:15. It is inexcusable for any of us to be ignorant of God's Word. What we need today is a 'ReBible' before we will experience a true revival. God's work must be done God's way. Man's methods for church growth and evangelism are often flawed and even contrary to Scripture.