Ezekiel 3 The Watchman
Ezekiel is sitting there contemplating God’s call. After seven days God tells him; “I am setting you as a watchman for the people.”
God lays a heavy burden on Ezekiel’s shoulders. As a watchman, it is his duty to call out when there is danger to the spiritual health of God’s people. If he doesn’t speak out God’s warning, that person’s blood will be on his hands. But if Ezekiel speaks and they don’t listen, their blood is on their own hands.
God lays out these specific ground rules with Ezekiel before he opens his mouth to the people for the first time. Let’s rejoin the story as God lays out the ground rules for Ezekiel. Holy Spirit, lead me again today. Direct my attention to what You would have me see in the story. Help me share with clarity what You want to share with those who read this story.
♥ ♦ ♥
Ezekiel is sitting on the ground in Tel-abib. He has been sitting here for nearly a week. The people have skirted around him, so as not to disturb him. Some have approached to see if he would speak with them. He hasn’t spoken with anyone. Some bring him food and water to sustain his body. Ezekiel occasionally drinks water, but has eaten none of the food set before him. He is in a daze and the people around him don’t even register on his mind. He is focused on contemplating the words of the Lord concerning his new role.
After seven days have passed, God is ready to give a bit more substance to Ezekiel’s call and purpose.
“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. 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. 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. 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. 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” (Ezekiel 3:17-21).
“I can do this” thinks Ezekiel. “I have to call out sin where I see it.”
God is thinking about Ezekiel’s ‘readiness’. “It’s not going to be that easy” muses God. “He will learn though.”
God looks down on Ezekiel who is still sitting in the dirt. “Arise, go out into the valley, and there I will speak with you” (Ezekiel 3:22).
Ezekiel slowly starts to rise from the ground. His muscles are stiff from sitting so long. Without a word, Ezekiel walks out of Tel-abib. Some of the people are angry that he didn’t come and speak with them. Others are relieved.
“Why do you think he was here?”
“I know him to be a great man, but he didn’t say anything.”
“Did he shake the dust off of his sandals?”
“I don’t think so. Why do you ask?”
“I have heard that if a prophet does this, it is a witness against the people before God that cannot be taken back.”
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t see him do that!”
The people breathe easier as they watch Ezekiel disappear into the distance.
God didn’t tell Ezekiel which valley to go to, but he follows where the Spirit leads him. As soon as Ezekiel enters the valley fully, the same vision of the glory of God stands before him again. Ezekiel falls to his face on the ground.
The Spirit of the Lord enters into Ezekiel and stands him on his feet again. There is not recrimination for Ezekiel’s humbly falling before God. But there is work to do and God wants to make certain that Ezekiel is paying close attention.
“Go, shut yourself within your house. And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people. And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house. But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house” (Ezekiel 3:24-27).
Ezekiel’s jaw falls slack in surprise. “I thought I was supposed to be speaking for God. Why is He making me mute” wonders Ezekiel. He shakes his head, but turns and goes to his house; just as the Lord commanded him to do.
While Ezekiel is making his way to his house, a man approaches him. Ezekiel knows from reports that this man once was a righteous man, but has fallen into sin. “This is exactly the kind of man God told me He would send me to” thinks Ezekiel. But as he starts to open his mouth to speak to him, nothing comes out. Not a single sound issues forth. Rather than try and find another way to get his message across, Ezekiel bows his head and continues on. The man doesn’t even break his stride as he passes Ezekiel. The only acknowledgement of their meeting is a simple head bow.
Ezekiel is confused, but he keeps it to himself; for now. After he is safely behind the door of his own house, he calls out from his spirit to the Lord.
“Why did You give me this mission, yet forbid me to speak when I know the man’s sins?”
“Because you don’t know the man’s heart. I DO. You will speak when I tell you to. And you will say the words that I give to you. I am judging My people; not you.”
Ezekiel bows his head in acknowledgment of God’s reproof. Ezekiel stays shut up in his house for days. He feels as though he is bound up by ropes so that he cannot walk out the door. He speaks not a word during this whole time. Occasionally a visitor stops by, but they leave after a very short time when Ezekiel is unable to utter a word; not even a greeting.
Those who live near Ezekiel begin watching him, wondering if God is punishing him for some sin. He has their attention. It is just a matter of time before God uses that attention.
(to be continued)
Ezekiel isn’t to use his own judgment on what it right and wrong. HE doesn’t get to call out people. He has to speak only what GOD tells him to say. This is God’s work; not Ezekiel’s. And it is God’s judgment of the person that matters.
Over my life, there have been times that I wish my tongue would have been stuck to the roof of my mouth. What I chose to say was hurtful. I passed judgment, or spread a report, or spoke ill of another person. James 3:1-12 speaks of the power of the tongue. It can heal or wound. It holds life and death within it.
Father God, forgive me for the times that I have used my tongue to wound or judge others. I want to speak life into people’s lives. Forgive me also for the times when I failed to speak words that I felt You telling me to say. You know my uncertainty and fear of speaking in Your name to others. I can talk all about You to anyone, but to say; “Thus says the Lord…” scares me witless! I don’t want to be found appropriating Your name for my words!
I have a feeling that ‘tongue work’ is something that I will be doing the rest of my life. I’m willing God. Give me Your grace and Your Spirit in this area of my life Father God. ONLY through You do I have ANY chance of success.
