The duty of the watchman is oft a lonely task. Safety demanded his role, yet none longed for his cry. His was only a message of warning, danger or certain peril. It was to this image that God called the prophet Ezekiel. “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me” (Ezek. 3:17).
The role of the watchman, as divinely defined by God, is given twice in the book of Ezekiel. It is the watchman that must deliver the warning. If he receives a warning from God and does not deliver the news to the intended recipient and that person dies, the blood will be required of the watchman. If, however, that message is delivered and the intended person still does not change and dies in their iniquity, the watchman has delivered himself from the blood of that man. So it is with both the wicked and the righteous, as both are in need of the Word of God (3:18-21; 33:7-9). It is this image that Paul identifies with in his last visit to the elders of Ephesus, “Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:26-27). From those words it can be inferred that we too must stand on the wall and give the warning, “Thus says the Lord God.”
God’s message to prepare Ezekiel as a watchman can encourage and empower us to do the same (Ezek. 2:1-3:21). God said to Ezekiel, “Son of man,…”
Stand on your feet! The place to start is on your feet. Decide to take a stand with the Lord of hosts. We are to stand firm in the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11, 13).
I am sending you! God knows who He is sending and to whom He is sending you. He told Ezekiel, “I know they are stubborn and will not listen but do not fear them or their words. You will speak My words whether they listen or not” (paraphrased Ezek. 2:3-7). God never placed on us the burden of conversion, just the burden of the message. So, we sow it (Matt. 13:3-9).
Listen to what I am speaking! God is to be the origin of the message. Neither Jesus nor the Holy Spirit spoke anything in their own behalf (John 12:49; 16:13). They listened and delivered the message. Should we be so different?
Eat what you find! Consume the message to make it a part of who you are. “I ate it and it was sweet” (3:3).
Go! God sent Ezekiel to his own people, “not to a people of unintelligible speech” (3:5), and so He is sending you. You bear the message of reconciliation: one of peace and good news. Will you deliver God’s message to those who need it?