Ez33 The Watchman (5/5)

# The Watchman
## Ezekiel 33 (5/5)
[Seal Beach, US. Hamish Duncan](https://unsplash.com/photos/mWMu5XSDe4I "caption")

>>>
+ ch2-3, 20

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# What if **others** won't change?

[###](#/outline "secret")

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| 1. What must I change? | [ch16:](# "ref") *Princess* [(identity)](# "ref") |
| --- | --- |
| 2. Who will help me? | [ch34:](# "ref") *Shepherds* [(leadership)](# "ref") |
| 3. How do I change? | [ch36:](# "ref") *Wanderers* [(God's work)](# "ref") |
| 4. Am I beyond hope? | [ch37:](# "ref") *Dry Bones* [(new life)](# "ref") |
| 5. **If others won't change?** | [ch33:](# "ref") *Watchman* [(missions)](# "ref") |

[Bad Pyrmont, Germany.  Sebastian Unrau](https://unsplash.com/photos/sp-p7uuT0tw "caption")

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+ orphan ⇒ **princess** 
  + ⇒ harlot ⇒ betrothed
+ as **shepherds** derelict in duty
  + as **strong** sheep pushing weak
  + remember our **Good Shepherd**
+ **heals** us of idols (if we let Him)
  + new **heart**, Spirit dwell
  + ⇒ **humility**: grief ⇒ **repent**
+ when **hope** has perished
  + "Lord, **You** know"
  + call out **grave** / life sin
  + breathe new **life**: Spirit
+ tell others about Christ:
  + but they **refuse** to listen?

---

## The Watchman [(Ez33)](# "ref")
1. **Proclaim**: Sound the Trumpet [(v1-9)](# "ref")
2. **Pray**: Turn, Turn! [(v10-20)](# "ref")
3. **Persevere**: A Prophet Among Them [(v30-33)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **proclaim** God's kingdom
  + **warn** to turn from sin
+ **pray** eagerly desiring that they **repent**
  + and be **forgiven**, and **live**
+ **persevere** even though none go with me

---

If he sees the **sword** coming upon the land 
and blows the **trumpet** and warns the people,

[4](# "ref")
then if anyone who **hears** the sound 
of the trumpet does **not** take warning,

and the **sword** comes and takes him away, 
his **blood** shall be upon his own head.

[Ezekiel 33:3-4 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. USAF / Areca T. Bell](https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1184301/national-police-week-defenders-remember-fallen/ "caption")

>>>
+ watchman has done **duty**
+ each **hearer** is responsible for own life
+ "blood on head": **responsibility**
+ e.g. spies to **Rahab** in Jericho:

---
Anyone who goes **out** of the doors 
of your house into the street, 
his **blood** shall be on his **own head**, 
and we shall be free;

but anyone who is with you **in the house**, 
his **blood** shall be on **our head** 
if a hand is laid on him.

[Joshua 2:19 (NASB)](# "ref")

>>>
+ God will **deliver** Jer to Israel
+ anyone in **house** with you
  + we **guarantee** their safety
  + but must **stay** in house
+ so the one who **hears** the watchman's trumpet
  + but **doesn't** take warning
  + has **forsaken** God's **protection**
  + and is **responsible** for own life
+ their judgment is not a **failure** of gospel
  + not that God is **cruel**
  + or never showed them **grace**
+ but what about the **watchman's** responsibility?

---

But if the watchman **sees** the sword coming 
and does **not** blow the trumpet, 
so that the people are **not warned**, 
and the sword comes 
and takes any one of them,

that person is taken away in **his iniquity**, 
but his **blood** I will require 
at the watchman's hand.

[Ezekiel 33:6 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ what does **require** his **blood** mean? 
+ after **Flood**, God spoke to Noah:

---
Surely I will **require** your **lifeblood**; 
from every **beast** I will require it.

And from every **man**, 
from every man’s **brother** 
I will require the **life** of man.

[Genesis 9:5 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ earth no longer **paradise**
+ allowed to eat **meat**
  + animals also have **fear** of man
  + would **attack** in fear
+ but every **animal** + every **man**
  + is **accountable** to God
+ "require lifeblood": accountable for **murder**
+ now, those who never have **chance** to repent
  + bc watchman never **warned**
  + of God's impending **judgment**:

---
That person is taken away in **his iniquity**,

but his **blood** I will require 
at the watchman's hand.

[Ezekiel 33:6 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ they are still **responsible** for own sins
+ if I do **not** warn
  + tantamount to **murder**!
+ I deem them as **unrepentant**, beyond **hope**
  + or not **worthy** of being saved
+ ⇒ I sit in **judgment** on them
  + usurping God's **authority**

---

So **you**, son of man, I have made 
a **watchman** for the house of Israel.

Whenever you hear a **word** from my mouth, 
you shall give them **warning** from me.

[Ezekiel 33:7 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Alex Jones](https://unsplash.com/photos/p0W9Q9gei4g "caption")

>>>
+ this is our **mandate**:
+ take **God's Words** of warning + life
  + **proclaim** to those around us
+ loudspeaker, **prophet**

---

# What is our **responsibility** toward those who won't change?

>>>
+ **proclaim** God's truth
  + **warn** of God's **judgment**
+ if they **refuse**:
  + they have **rejected** God's protection
+ but if I **don't** warn them:
  + still die in own **sin**,
  + but I'm guilty of **murder**!

---

## The Watchman [(Ez33)](# "ref")
1. Proclaim: Sound the Trumpet [(v1-9)](# "ref")
2. **Pray: Turn, Turn!** [(v10-20)](# "ref")
3. Persevere: A Prophet Among Them [(v30-33)](# "ref")

>>>
+ God's **heart**:
  + desires to show **compassion**
+ **we** should, too
+ Israelites **despairing**:

---

"Surely our **transgressions** 
and our **sins** are upon us, 
and we **rot away** because of them.

**How** then can we live?"

[Ezekiel 33:10 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Silverthorne, CO. Nathan Anderson](https://unsplash.com/photos/mKA3VavSuaI "caption")

>>>
+ first, for **ourselves**, then others:
+ when we **despair** bc of sin
  + trapped by bad **habits**
+ remember it's not the **first** time
  + ever since **birth**:

---

And when I passed by you 
and saw you **wallowing** in your blood,

I said to you in your blood, ‘**Live!**’ 
I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’

[Ezekiel 16:6 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Geetanjal Khanna](https://unsplash.com/photos/8CwoHpZe3qE "caption")

>>>
+ when we were **helpless**

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These **bones** are the whole house of Israel. 
Behold, they say, 
‘Our bones are **dried up**, and our **hope** is lost; 
we are indeed **cut off**.’

[Ezekiel 37:11 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Brad Helmink](https://unsplash.com/photos/8EFA86nI6yg "caption")

>>>
+ when we were **hopeless**
+ God gives us **new life**!
  + never **gives up** on us:

---

I have no **pleasure** in the death of the wicked, 
but that the wicked **turn** from his way and **live**;

**Turn back**, turn back from your evil ways, 
for why will you **die**, O house of Israel?

[Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Jens Lelie](https://unsplash.com/photos/u0vgcIOQG08 "caption")

>>>
+ not a blanket **affirmation**
  + not an **endorsement** of sin
+ **invitation** to turn back
  + change of **orientation**
  + values, **goals**, pursue
+ If God so earnestly **desires**
  + the wicked to **repent**
+ do **I**? (schaden-freude, joy in harm)

---

If the **wicked** restores the pledge, 
**gives back** what he has taken by robbery, 
and walks in the **statutes** of life, 
not doing **injustice**,

he shall surely **live**; he shall not die.

[20](# "ref")
I will judge each of you according to his **ways**.

[Ezekiel 33:15,20 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Claudio Testa](https://unsplash.com/photos/FrlCwXwbwkk "caption")

>>>
+ repent not just **words** / promises
  + **action** / habits
  + empowered by **Holy Spirit**
  + starting with a new **heart**
+ (cf **James** faith in action)

---

# Do I **want** the wicked to **repent**, or perish?

>>>
+ God has shown **grace** to us
  + let us show grace to **others**

---

## The Watchman [(Ez33)](# "ref")
1. Proclaim: Sound the Trumpet [(v1-9)](# "ref")
2. Pray: Turn, Turn! [(v10-20)](# "ref")
3. **Persevere: A Prophet Among Them** [(v30-33)](# "ref")

>>>

---

As for **you**, son of man, 
your people ... say to one another, ...

‘**Come**, and hear what the **word** is 
that comes from the Lord.’

[31](# "ref")
And they **come** to you as people come, 
and they **sit** before you as my people

[Ezekiel 33:30-31 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/1EbsMYrAu-s "caption")

>>>
+ Is58: **seem** eager to know God's ways

---

You are to them like one 
who sings lustful **songs** with a beautiful voice 
and plays well on an **instrument**,

for they **hear** what you say, 
but they will **not do** it.

[Ezekiel 33:32 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Palm Springs, CA. Edwards Cisneros](https://unsplash.com/photos/jfU3_67YiwQ "caption")

>>>
+ **most** churchgoers
+ hear **uplifting** sermon
  + expert **oratory**
  + **emotional** experience
  + cathartic **cry**
+ but not actually **obeying**
  + don't let this be **you**!
+ when we **proclaim** kingdom of God:
  + **most** hearers will not repent
+ this was **Ezekiel's** experience: ch20:

---
Thus says the Lord God, 
"Behold, I will kindle a **fire** in you, ... 
The blazing flame shall not be **quenched**, 
and all **faces** from south to north 
shall be **scorched** by it."

[49](# "ref")
Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! 
They are saying of me, 
Is he not a maker of **parables**?’”

[Ezekiel 20:47,49 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **hypocrisy**: worship God but also **idols**
  + ch20a: declare their **sins**
+ **fire** of God's judgment
+ "it's just an **allegory** / superlative"

---

When this comes — and come it **will**! — 
then they will know 
that a **prophet** has been among them.

[Ezekiel 33:33 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Phare du Petit Minou, France. William Bout](https://unsplash.com/photos/7cdFZmLlWOM "caption")

>>>
+ we **know** that He is the **LORD our God**
+ have **experienced** how His **forgiveness**
  + **transforms** us, gives new **life**
+ know His return is **imminent**
  + only then our faith be **vindicated**
+ echoes Ezekiel's **calling** in ch2:

---

I **send** you to them, 
and you shall say to them, 
‘Thus says the **Lord God**.’

[5](# "ref")
And whether they **hear** or **refuse** to hear 
(for they are a **rebellious** house)

they will know that 
a **prophet** has been among them

[Ezekiel 2:4-5 (ESV)](# "ref")

---
### I Have **Decided** to Follow Jesus

<div class="imgbox">
<div>![map of Assam](https://sermons.seanho.com/img/fig/assam.png)
 Assam region of India</div>
<div>![Sadhu Sundar Singh](https://sermons.seanho.com/img/fig/sadhu_sundar_singh.jpg)
 [Sadhu Sundar Singh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadhu_Sundar_Singh)</div>
</div>

>>>
+ [(further research)](https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/history-of-hymns-i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus)
+ story passed through **oral** tradition, details lost
+ put to music by **Singh**, travelling evangelist in India
  + gospel of Christ, **culture** of India
  + Yellow robe of the **sadhu** (ascetic holy man)
+ man of **Garo** tribe, Assam region, NE India (E of Bangladesh)
  + formerly **head-hunters**
+ Welsh or English **missionaries**, at great personal cost
  + first family in village to come to Christ
+ two sons + wife slain before him, then he was killed

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# Will I still **proclaim** God's kingdom, though none may **follow**?

>>>
+ I have **decided** to follow Jesus
+ 3 hearts in envelope:
  + **red**: commit to follow Christ at this retreat
  + **white**: re-dedicate
  + **green**: hear calling to full-time ministry
+ pastors/elders **follow-up** to encourage you

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