A Challenging Message

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

God, You have called me to speak truth. Help me to live this out in the lives of those around me with integrity and grace.

Read Ezekiel 3:16-27

^[16] 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 people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. ^[18] When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. ^[19] But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself. ^[20] “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. ^[21] But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.” ^[22] The hand of the LORD was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.” ^[23] So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. ^[24] Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. ^[25] And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. ^[26] I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people. ^[27] But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.

Meditate

We will all stand and give account, and suffer regret or reward, for our faithfulness–or lack of faithfulness–to extend the warning against unbelief and the hope of the Gospel (see 2 Cor. 5:10).

Think Further

A sport’s coach plays a vital role in providing advice, encouragement and help to any athlete who wants to win a game, a race or a medal. Without a good coach the athlete is unlikely to win–but it remains the athlete, not the coach, who does the actual winning. Similarly, a watchman plays a vital part in keeping a city safe. I’ve been listening this week to TV announcements of flood warnings and evacuation advice. If the advice were not given then relevant authorities would be responsible for any unnecessary flood damage and particularly loss of life. But if the warning is given and ignored, then people have only themselves to blame.

God called Ezekiel, and he calls his people today, to be watchmen and watchwomen. This is a vital and a challenging task. If it is not done then people will die, spiritually, and it will be our fault because they did not know that there was action they could have taken to avoid it. We will be responsible–and God will hold us accountable (20)–for their fate. A scary thought! However, we are not responsible and will not be held responsible for their response. If they hear the flood warning and don’t heed it, then we may feel sad about that but we don’t need to feel any guilt.

These verses bring an encouragement to Ezekiel as well as a challenge. His call is to carry out the task God has given to him–to speak the warning. What happens next is between the people and God, so when they don’t respond–and he is warned that many probably will not–that is not his fault or his responsibility. Trying to take responsibility that is not ours is neither necessary nor wise.

Apply

Is there a warning trumpet that you need to blow? Pray that your concern for the recipient will be greater than your fear of what they might think of you.

Closing prayer

Loving Lord, it is a serious task that we have been given. Help me take to heart that we as believers will give account and that eternity will remember our choices.

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