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Bible Survey Lesson 39: “EZEKIEL” pt. 3, Chapters 33-48
The Watchman’s Duty – Ezekiel 33 NASB1995
“1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand.’ – Ezekiel 33 NASB1995
Date of Writing: The Book of EZEKIEL was likely written between 593 and 565 B.C. during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews.
Purpose of Writing: EZEKIEL ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. By means of his prophetic ministry he attempted to bring them to immediate repentance and to confidence in the distant future. He taught that:
- 1. God works through human messengers;
- 2. Even in defeat and despair God’s people need to affirm God’s sovereignty;
- 3. God’s Word never fails;
- 4. God is present and can be worshiped anywhere;
- 5. People must obey God if they expect to receive blessings; and
- 6. God’s Kingdom will come.
Key Verses:
EZEKIEL 2:3-6, “He said: ‘son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says.” And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.'”
EZEKIEL 18:4, “For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.”
EZEKIEL 28:12-14, “‘You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.”
EZEKIEL 33:11, “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'”
EZEKIEL 48:35, “And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.”
Summary: How can you cope with a world gone astray? EZEKIEL destined to begin his life’s ministry as a priest at age thirty (30), was uprooted from his homeland and marched off to Babylon at the age of twenty-five (25). For five (5) years he languished in despair. At age thirty a majestic vision of Yahweh’s glory captivated his being in Babylon. The priest/prophet discovered God was not confined to the narrow strictures of Ezekiel’s native land. Instead, He is a universal God who commands and controls persons and nations. In Babylon, God imparted to Ezekiel His Word for the people. His call experience transformed Ezekiel. He became avidly devoted to God’s Word. He realized he had nothing personally to assist the captives in their bitter situation, but he was convinced God’s Word spoke to their condition and could give them victory in it. Ezekiel used various methods to convey God’s Word to his people. He used art in drawing a depiction of Jerusalem, symbolic actions and unusual conduct to secure attention. He cut his hair and beard to demonstrate what God would do to Jerusalem and its inhabitants.
EZEKIEL‘s book can be divided into four sections:
Chapters 1-24: Prophecies on the RUIN of Jerusalem
Chapters 25-32: prophecies of God’s JUDGEMENT on nearby nations
Chapter 33: a last call for REPENTANCE to Israel
Chapters 34-48: prophecies concerning the future RESTORATION of Israel
Foreshadowings: EZEKIEL 34 is the chapter wherein God denounces the leaders of Israel as false shepherds for their poor care of His people. Instead of caring for the sheep of Israel, they cared for themselves. They ate well, were well-clothed and well-cared for by the very people they had been placed over (Ezekiel 34:1-3). By contrast, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep and who protects them from the wolves who would destroy the flock (John 10:11-12). Verse 4 of chapter 34 describes people whom the shepherds failed to minister to as weak, sick, injured and lost. Jesus is the Great Physician who heals our spiritual wounds (Isaiah 53:5) by His death on the cross. He is the one who seeks and saves that which is lost (Luke 19:10).
Practical Application: The Book of EZEKIEL calls covenant people to join in a fresh and living encounter with the God of Abraham, Moses and the prophets. We must be overcomers or we will be overcome. Ezekiel challenges:
- to EXPERIENCE a life changing vision of God’s power, knowledge, eternal presence and holiness;
- to LET GOD DIRECT us; to comprehend the depth of and commitment to evil that lodges in each human heart;
- to RECOGNIZE that God holds His servants responsible for warning wicked men of their peril;
- to EXPERIENCE a living RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ, who said that the new covenant is to be found in His blood.