Justice and the Prophets
God Requires Justice
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)
Consequences for Injustice
Ezekiel 33:1-9 The Message
You Are the Watchman
33 1-5 God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people. Tell them, ‘If I bring war on this land and the people take one of their citizens and make him their watchman, and if the watchman sees war coming and blows the trumpet, warning the people, then if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet and ignores it and war comes and takes him off, it’s his own fault. He heard the alarm, he ignored it—it’s his own fault. If he had listened, he would have saved his life.
6 “‘But if the watchman sees war coming and doesn’t blow the trumpet, warning the people, and war comes and takes anyone off, I’ll hold the watchman responsible for the bloodshed of any unwarned sinner.’
7-9 “You, son of man, are the watchman. I’ve made you a watchman for Israel. The minute you hear a message from me, warn them. If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked man, wicked woman, you’re on the fast track to death!’ and you don’t speak up and warn the wicked to change their ways, the wicked will die unwarned in their sins and I’ll hold you responsible for their bloodshed. But if you warn the wicked to change their ways and they don’t do it, they’ll die in their sins well-warned and at least you will have saved your own life
For Reflection
Who are the watchman? Punishment was not Ezekiel's purview, but it was his responsibility to monitor God's people, remind them of the promise of God, and warn them of the consequences of their disobedience. Among the responsibilities tasked to Ezekiel was to warn and counsel the people of God when they strayed too far from their faith in the promise of God.
Have you ever considered that among the Christian roles you assume, one is pastoral? Are you a watchman?
Pray
Pray and contemplate the standards God uses to judge God's people. Pray and contemplate how God evaluates your obedience to the Word. Pray and see yourself and others through the merciful forgiving compassionate eyes of God.
| 
