THE WATCHMAN: EZEKIEL 33:1-11

THE WATCHMAN
EZEKIEL 33:1-11

1. AGAIN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,
2. 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:
3. IF WHEN HE SEETH THE SWORD COME UPON THE LAND, HE BLOW THE TRUMPET, AND WARN THE PEOPLE;
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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?
11. 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?

EXAMPLE OF A WATCHMAN – VSS. 1-6
GOD USED THE EXAMPLE OF A WATCHMAN ASSIGNED TO WATCH FOR THE ENEMY AND GIVE WARNING.
IF HE SOUNDS THE TRUMPET IN WARNING WHEN THE ENEMY COMES, HE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE.
IF HE FAILS TO SOUND THE WARNING, THE WATCHMAN IS RESPONSIBLE.

EXPLANATION TO A WATCHMAN – VSS. 6-9
EZEKIEL WAS CALLED AS A WATCHMAN TO ISRAEL.
HE WAS TO LISTEN TO GOD AND WARN THE PEOPLE.
IF EZEKIEL FAILED TO WARN THE WICKED HE WAS RESPONSIBLE.
IF EZEKIEL DID WARN THE WICKED, HE WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE.

EXHORTATION FOR A WATCHMAN – VSS. 10-11
EZEKIEL WAS TO SPEAK TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
ISRAEL WAS TO BE TOLD THAT GOD TOOK NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF THE WICKED.
GOD’S DESIRE IS THAT MEN TURN FROM WICKEDNESS AND LIVE.

EZEKIEL 33:23-33
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. 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.
33. AND WHEN THIS COMETH TO PASS, (LO, IT WILL COME,) THEN SHALL THEY KNOW THAT A PROPHET HATH BEEN AMONG THEM.

THE PEOPLE ATTEND – VS. 30
THE PEOPLE LISTEN – VS. 31
THE PEOPLE SOUND GOOD – VS. 31
THE PEOPLE HAVE A FAULTY HEART – VS. 31
THE PEOPLE ENJOY – VS. 32
THE PEOPLE DO NOT OBEY – VS. 32
THE PEOPLE WILL BE JUDGED AS THE PREACHER PREDICTED. VSS. 33, 28-29