Ezekiel a Watchman

In today’s passage, we get the key message of Ezekiel – ‘Turn!’ God does not want to bring punishment against sinners – not in Ezekiel’s day, and not now. He desires for His people to turn away from sin and to turn toward Him. The New Testament assures us that if we confess, He will forgive.

Study the Scripture

Read in  Ezekiel 33:1-20

For more help use this Bible Study method

REFLECTION

It’s Just Not Fair 

by Mary McGinnis

The rules of the kickball game have been set. All the kids come out on the field to play. The first kick of the inning, little Mary kicks the ball as hard as she can. The ball pops high up in the air and as it descends, it lands right in the arms of the right fielder. 

The umpire shouts, “Your out!!” 

Little Mary cries, “It’s just not fair. I am such a mess up; I will never be good at kickball,” or

“It’s just not fair. I have a broken toenail, that is what caused the ball to pop up, it’s not my fault,” or

“It’s just not fair. That was my first kick!  I should get a do over,” or maybe,

“It’s just not fair. Suzie is always the favorite, why doesn’t she ever get called out?"

That is how God’s people reacted when Ezekiel tried to warn them of God calling them OUT because they were not following His laws. They tried to use the excuse that God was not being fair. 

They bemoan that since they are weighed down with guilt and rotting away, they could never be expected to turn around now and live for God. They fatalistically say, 

“Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”  And “The way of the Lord is not just.”

God responds, “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.” 

Don’t you see how much God loved them? He sent a watchman, to stand up high over the land and watch for the coming disaster, and then warn His people so they would “Turn! Turn!” from their wayward ways and live!

Yes, it is true that God calls us OUT! He says, “The wages of sin is death. . .” Romans 6:23a. That is not a pretty description! 

Yet, don’t you see how much He loves us? God wants nothing more than to rescue us.

“. . . but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:24b.

“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.”  1 Timothy 2:4

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - SATURDAY

Prayer Practice: Today in prayer, pray deep, honest, remorseful confession. Don’t just mouth the words of the liturgy – take time to face-up to your sin, to the shame you carry, to the damage you’ve done to others. Grieve that sin, repent of it, and turn to God to be forgiven once-again. He delights in repentant hearts and is faithful to forgive.