Readings for today: Ezekiel 31-33, Psalms 40
What does it mean to be a watchman? To put it another, more ancient way, what does it mean to be my brother or sister’s keeper? To watch out for those I love. Watch out for those I live among and around in my neighborhood. Watch out for those I work alongside. Watch out for those in my church family. Watch out for strangers or even my enemies. What does it mean to take up the responsibility to speak the truth in love? To call out wrong and work to set things right? To lift up the fallen? Comfort the broken? Confront the prideful and arrogant? Forgive those who hurt me? Reconcile with those I find myself in conflict with? What does it mean to fulfill God’s call to speak for Him to those around me with a desire to see them turn from their self-centered ways and turn back to Christ? What does it mean to be given God’s Word to speak to a specific people in a specific place and time? To be able to look out on the culture at large and see the coming judgment? To speak to it not in anger or outrage but in tenderness and compassion and love? To lay aside my natural prophetic zeal and instead kneel in sackcloth and ashes and weep over the sins of God’s people? To plead with them to return to the Lord with their whole hearts?
Ezekiel was a faithful prophet. He understood his call from the Lord clearly. He was to speak God’s Word to God’s people. Only God’s Word. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. He was to speak God’s Word as boldly and clearly as possible. He was to speak with full conviction and hold nothing back. In so doing, he is creating the conditions whereby God’s people might respond in repentance and humility. It’s important to note that Ezekiel was not responsible for the results. He was only responsible for the warning he was given to provide. So Ezekiel’s success or failure in ministry didn’t ride on how the people responded. Those who listened to his words were saved. Those who rejected his words were destroyed. Ezekiel was only held responsible to speak. Truthfully. Honestly. Openly. Transparently. “As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, give them a warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked one, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to warn him about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he doesn’t turn from it, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself.” (Ezekiel 33:7-9 CSB)
Tomorrow I will go to bury my dad. We will arrive in the cemetery at the graveside as a family to pay our final respects. Even as I say goodbye, I am reminded of the ways God made me a watchman for my father. How many times did I share the gospel with him over the years? How many times did I have to confront him on his selfish behavior? How many times did I suffer alongside him as he battled addiction? How many times did I forgive and reconcile with him? Thankfully, God was faithful. He used my words and my example and my encouragement to bring my father to faith near the end of his life. It was a great reminder of the power of the watchman. I wasn’t responsible for my father’s decision but his blood would be on my head if I did not share God’s Word with him.
I think about all I see happening in our world today. There is so much anger, disdain, hatred, and fear. So much corruption and selfishness and injustice and oppression. So much frustration and anxiety and despair. What the world needs now more than ever is for the people of God to take their stand and speak God’s truth in love for those who are lost and wandering in the darkness. The world needs us and God is inviting us to take our place in His great Kingdom work to bring the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 34-36, Psalms 41 (No devotionals on Sundays)