God calls Ezekiel

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REFLECTION

Ezekiel’s Assignment: Judgement to Come

by Elaine Pierce

Today we begin a week of scripture readings from the book of Ezekiel. I will admit that Ezekiel is not one of my 'go-to' books of the Bible, but I know there is much there for me - and perhaps you - to learn.

According to Biblical scholars, Ezekiel's first prophecy dates from 593 BC, seven years before the fall of Jerusalem; his last from 571 BC. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah, and these men lived in politically volatile times (does that sound familiar?). Israel had long since been destroyed by the Assyrians, and the southern kingdom, Judah, where Ezekiel lived, was conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar. Thousands of Jews, including Ezekiel, were sent into exile.

It is in exile that God speaks to Ezekiel and gives him his assignment: he will be a watchman for the house of Israel. Warn them that they will die if they don't repent from their evil ways (Ezekiel 3:16-18, paraphrased).

Ezekiel has no doubt that this directive comes from God: "The hand of the LORD was upon me there....And the glory of the LORD was standing there....(Ezekiel 3:22 and 23). If he didn't obey, it was clear that God would act, not only to punish the sins of the people, but to punish Ezekiel for not warning them.

"Watchmen" were men posted on farm and town walls to warn of thieves or attackers. In Psalm 130:6, we read this about the watchman's longing for his shift to be over:

I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

God has appointed Ezekiel as the spiritual watchman for the captive Jews. God has told him to tell the Jews that they must repent, and if they don't, they will die.

Being the bearer of bad news is not a job I would want. But Ezekiel is obedient to God's call. Does God have a message for us today, in 2020, the year of the pandemic, the year of polarizing political views and social unrest? What is our role as the body of Christ?  First, we need to repent of our sins, and then we need to graciously, gently, call others to his saving grace.

Read the rest of Psalm 130 and take hope in the message - God longs for us to experience his saving grace, but we need to ask for forgiveness and recognize that all good gifts come only from him:

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER

Sundays - PEACE - Blessed are the Shalom-makers, for they shall be called the children of God. We confess that we have all sinned and fallen short of your glory, O God. We have broken the peace and wholeness of your good world. Forgive us, lead us, and restore us. Reform us into peacemakers instead of peace-breakers.