The Responsibilities of the Watchman
The responsibilities of the watchman are designated by the Lord. The Scriptures say the word of the Lord came unto Ezekiel, Ezekiel 3:16, 33:1. It was the watchman’s purpose to maintain a lookout for imposing danger from an approaching enemy. A warning was to be given by the watchman so the people of the city could find shelter and take refuge from the threatening army. The duty of the watchman was to blow the trumpet and sound the warning. The warning was to be loud enough to be heard and distinctly understood as a call to find safety. The faithfulness of the watchman was determined by his faithful performance of his duty, not by the response of the people. It was the responsibility of the people to respond. Upon hearing the warning, the people could choose to find shelter and preserve their lives, or they could choose to ignore the warning and suffer certain destruction and death.
Ezekiel was commissioned as a watchman to the nation of Israel. The Lord spoke to Ezekiel as recorded in Ezekiel 3:17, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” The prophet was given a two-fold ministry: give warning to the wicked and to the righteous of Israel. God had announced, “The soul that sinneth shall die”, Ezekiel 18:20. Ezekiel was a watchman concerning the spiritual condition of Israel. He would keep watch over the spiritual life of the nation, warn the people when sin was allowed to dominate their lives, and give warning of the impending danger. In Proverbs 14:34 it is recorded, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” As the people go, so goes the nation!
Ezekiel was held responsible by God to preach against the sin of the people and warn them of the wrath to come if they refused to repent of their sin and live according to the word of the Lord. The same diligence was to be given toward those who had a righteous walk, but were allowing sin to draw them away from their intimacy with the Lord. God’s call to the people was, “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin”, Ezekiel 18:30b. The Lord held Ezekiel responsible to warn both the wicked and the righteous, but did not hold him accountable for their response. The compassion of God is revealed in Ezekiel 33:11, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
Christians today are to warn others of the impending danger of the wrath of God upon unrepentant sin. Jesus commissioned Christians to be the watchmen of today when He spoke “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain . . .”, John 15:16. The wicked are to be warned of the penalty of unrepentant sin, which is eternity in hell. They are to be given the opportunity to flee to safety, which is to Christ Jesus as Savior. As Christians sound the warning, they fulfill their responsibility. It then becomes the choice of the hearer to respond. In like manner, Christians are to hold other Christians accountable to live righteously before the Lord. When sin is recognized entering the life of a fellow Christian, a warning should be issued to repent, so that intimacy with the Lord may be restored. It is the desire of the Lord that all come to repentance. God longs to be glorified through the righteous and obedient life, not the death and punishment of the wicked.
Lord, empower us with Your Holy Spirit to be effective and faithful watchmen.
Learning to serve,
Robert Finley
