Watchman
Comments for Study 12
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I. Ezekiel a Watchman (33:1-20)
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* The Lord renewed Ezekiel's call after in previous chapters pronouncing judgements against the nations surrounding what had been Israel and Judah. This was just after Jerusalem fell. Perhaps he was feeling discouraged and didn't see the point of his mission. The Lord encouraged him. He still had good work to do.
Ezekiel was to warn sinners to change their ways and encourage the repentant to continue in their walk of faith. He was a watchman. Jesus is my example in being a watchman.
I see that I am accountable for my choices and actions. I need to keep faith to the end. I need to be loving and be respectful to the end. I am to share the good news continually.
If the Lord shows me some error I had committed, or am committing, then I am to change my ways and stop sinning. My thoughts are the source of my actions. My thoughts are to be just. If they are I will live as Jesus wants me to. The Holy Spirit will lead me in God's will for me.
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II. Jerusalem's Fall Explained (33:21-33)
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* The 12th year of the exile counting from the second seige's end and Ezekiel's captivity begin would make the year 585 BC, the year after Babylon destroyed the temple and burned Jerusalem.
The Lord had shut Ezekiel's mouth often, only allowing him to speak when the Lord allowed. This time Ezekiel's mission was to explain the fall.
The Jews, the name given to Israelites who remained, thought that they had special privileges with God. They had been told so and could point to scripture verses that said so. Yet at the same time no one but a few prophets pointed out other verses that said what the Lord required of them. So they sinned. This is why they no longer were allowed to live in the land. The privileges were forfeited by their duplicity.
Jesus said, "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." (John 3:20-21)
I had believed that this was only referring to the day of my conversation. That is when I stepped into the light. However, last night the Lord revealed to me that stepping into the light is a daily event. He said, "whoever LIVES by the truth comes into the light". Stepping into to the light is daily.
The Holy Spirit revealed to me about my duplicity in daily actions, attitude, thoughts, and frame of mind. Just because I accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, thus entering a personal relationship with him, did not mean that I have special privileges no matter what I do. Jesus told his disciples that they needed to have him wash their feet every day. (John 13) The Jews lost privileges when they continued in sin in their duplicity lifestyle. I should not live in duplicity, believing in Jesus and not doing what he says.
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III. Shepherds and Sheep (34:1-31)
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* Ezekiel 34 with fulfillment in John 10 and Matthew 25:31-46. Reading these and Psalm 23 stirs the heart and can bring a tear to the eye.
The Lord said that Israel shepherds were selfish and didn't care for his people. They were not shepherds at all. So he said that he would be Israel's Shepherd. He will tend them and have them lie down in green pastures. He will judge between the sheep and goats. He will judge between the fat sheep and the lean. The One Shepherd will be the Lord's servant David. He said, "I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken."
Jesus fulfilled the Lord's promise in part when he came and preached the good news. In these 3 chapters Jesus proclaimed to be God, the Son of God, the Lord of Israel, and the one who brings the Gentiles believers and Israel believers together.
Jesus will fulfill the rest of the prophecy when he comes again. Jesus said, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left."
Jesus is my Shepherd.
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