| “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.” |
| —Ezekiel 33:1-9 |
As ambassadors of God’s mercy, grace, and love to a troubled and needy world, how important is our truth-telling? Please take note of these words of the Prophet Ezekiel recorded in Ezekiel 33:1-9:
The word of the Lord came to me:
“Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.
‘Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.
‘But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.
“When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.
“But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.”
These powerful words resound across the ages. As you go out into another new day, please remember them and heed their warning. For we who serve the living Lord Jesus Christ are truly watchmen for our time and place.
Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, August 7, 2017
Copyright © 2023 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.
