EZEKIEL LESSON 35

     We will begin this lesson in Ezekiel 33:1 "Again the word of the
LORD came unto me, saying,"

     This begins a new prophecy here. In the last chapter, Ezekiel
brought his message to the heathen world. Now in this chapter, he is
back speaking to his own people.

     Ezekiel 33:2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and
say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of
the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

     We can quickly see that "children of thy people" is speaking of
the children of Israel. This is speaking of a man being chosen out of
the people to go, and sit on the wall, and watch, and to warn the
people of the coming danger. He is to be the watchman. This message is
as much for the ministers of our day, as it is for the people of
Israel.  The pastor of a church must, also, be a watchman. He must
look out to the world, and warn his people of all danger. The minister
is responsible for warning the people of spiritual things.

     Ezekiel 33:3 "If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he
blow the trumpet, and warn the people;"

     Some ministers preach nothing but love and good times. This is
speaking of blowing the trumpet to warn of danger. The trumpet was
blown to assemble the people, and for war.

     Ezekiel 33:4 "Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet,
and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his
blood shall be upon his own head."

     There should be a sound of alarm going forth in our country
today. God will not always overlook the sin. The homosexuality,
lesbianism, adultery, drugs, cursing, perversion, lying, stealing,
cheating, palm reading, horoscope reading, worship of Satan, and
abortions are all things that God will not overlook. Punishment will
come, it is just a matter of when. There are many other things that
should be included in the list above. Our society has gone mad. God is
a holy God, and He expects His people to be holy, as well. Where are
the ministers who are crying out about the sins of our land?  We need
some good old fashioned watchmen, who will proclaim the sin, and cause
the people to repent. If we do not have national revival, our land is
lost. Notice, if the watchman blows the trumpet, and they do not hear,
their sins are upon their own heads.

     Ezekiel 33:5 "He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not
warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall
deliver his soul."

     John the Baptist went through the land crying out, repent. We
need some more like him today. When you blow the trumpet, not everyone
will take warning, but some will. Those that hear the warning, and
repent, shall save their soul. Those who do not take the warning, will
be responsible for themselves. The job of the watchman is to blow the
trumpet.

     Ezekiel 33:6 "But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow
not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and
take [any] person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity;
but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand."

     Remember, "watchman" is speaking of the ministers of the Word of
God. It is a very dangerous thing not to warn your people. God holds
the watchman responsible. If you see the danger, and do not warn your
people, you are responsible for their sins. God counts you guilty of
their sins.

     Ezekiel 33:7  "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman
unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my
mouth, and warn them from me."

     This leaves no doubt, that this watchman is not a watchman for
fleshly war, but is the watchman of men's souls. Ezekiel held such a
position to the house of Israel.

     Ezekiel 33:8 "When I say unto the wicked, O wicked [man], thou
shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his
way, that wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I
require at thine hand."

     The minister must be observant of the sins in the people he
guides.  He must not just see the sin, but bring it to their
attention, so they can repent. Notice the man, instead of men, here.
This is speaking of individual sins in a person's life.

     Ezekiel 33:9 "Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to
turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his
iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."

     The minister is not responsible to see that the person repents.
He is responsible to tell them of their sins. It is their decision,
whether to repent of that sin, or not. The punishment, if the minister
tells them, is their own, not the ministers.

     Ezekiel 33:10 "Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house
of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins
[be] upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?"

     The penalty for unrepented sin is death. The unrepentant have a
worse fate than death that awaits them, and that is hell. To die in
sin, leaves no hope at all. They had listened to the false prophets,
and thought good times were coming. They were not even aware they had
sinned.

     Ezekiel 33:11 "Say unto them, [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?"

     To "repent" means to turn completely away from the old sinful
life you had been in, and live a brand new life in forgiveness. For
Christians, we say we are born again, not of the flesh, but of the
Spirit of God. We no longer live, but Christ liveth in us. We walk in
newness of life. We are no more slave to sin. God is always there
ready to receive those who repent and turn to Him. God is not willing
that even one would be lost. II Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack
concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance."  God is willing to save you, are you
willing to be saved?

     Ezekiel 33:12 "Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children
of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver
him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the
wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his
wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his
[righteousness] in the day that he sinneth."

     This is just saying you will not be saved, because you had lived
righteous awhile, and then went back into a sinful way of life. On the
other hand, you will not go to hell for past sins, if you have
repented, and are now living above sin. The state you are in at the
time you die, is what saves you. Sins, that are forgiven are no longer
your sins.

     Ezekiel 33:13 "When I shall say to the righteous, [that] he shall
surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit
iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his
iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it."

     This is another way of saying the very same thing. All sins, that
are forgiven, are put in the sea of forgetfulness, never to be
remembered anymore. Those who have been forgiven and lived for God, do
not have a license to sin. If they go back into their sins, and die in
that unrepented state, they are lost.

     Ezekiel 33:14 "Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt
surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and
right;"

     Remember, Ezekiel is the watchman, and he must tell him when he
is sinning. Notice, also, the telling caused him to repent, and walk
in newness of life.

     Ezekiel 33:15 "[If] the wicked restore the pledge, give again
that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing
iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die."

     Now, we see the reward for repenting and walking in that newness
of life. It is everlasting life. One of the ways to show sincerity in
repentance, is to make restitution, wherever it is possible.

     Ezekiel 33:16 "None of his sins that he hath committed shall be
mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he
shall surely live."

     God does not judge past sin, as much as He judges the present
condition of your heart. God has forgotten the sins that are repented
of. We must live our faith everyday. Christianity is not a religion,
but a relationship with Christ Jesus. We are to walk daily in that
relationship.

     Ezekiel 33:17  "Yet the children of thy people say, The way of
the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal."

     The truth of the matter is that God's ways are not equal. He
judges in our favor, not against us. He gave us grace, when we
deserved judgement. He is more than fair. He loved us even when we
were involved in sin. He forgave Israel over, and over, and over.

     Ezekiel 33:18 "When the righteous turneth from his righteousness,
and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby."

     The following Scriptures say about the same thing. Hebrews 6:4
"For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy
Ghost," Hebrews 6:5 "And have tasted the good word of God, and the
powers of the world to come," Hebrews 6:6 "If they shall fall away, to
renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves
the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame."

     Ezekiel 33:19 "But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do
that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby."

     God is quick to forgive. That is why He sent His Son to save us.
John 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life."

     Ezekiel 33:20  "Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O
ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways."

     God loves them, and has given them every chance to repent. He
will not force Himself upon them. It is still their choice. If they do
not accept the salvation He is offering them, they will be judged for
every sin they ever committed.

     Ezekiel 33:21  "And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our
captivity, in the tenth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month,
[that] one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The
city is smitten."

     The capture of Jerusalem took place in the fourth month of the
eleventh year. This messenger came 18 months later with this news.

     Ezekiel 33:22 "Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the
evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth,
until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was
no more dumb."

     It appears from this, that there was a period of time when
Ezekiel was struck dumb and could not talk. I do not believe that
Ezekiel was totally dumb during this period of time. I believe the
only Words he could speak, were the Words of prophecy, that God put
into his mouth.  During this time, Ezekiel was not to speak from his
own thoughts. The only Words that were to come from his mouth were the
Words of the LORD. The things that Ezekiel saw and heard during this
time would, probably, have brought comments of his own, if he had been
able to speak. God wanted just His Words to come from Ezekiel's mouth.

     Ezekiel 33:23 "Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"

     Even though Ezekiel can now speak his own thoughts, he is to
still speak for the Lord, as well.

     Ezekiel 33:24 "Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the
land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the
land: but we [are] many; the land is given us for inheritance."

     These rebellious children of Israel, who had escaped captivity
and remained in the land, against the wishes of God, now claim the
land for themselves. They are descended from Abraham, but so are those
in exile.

     Ezekiel 33:25 "Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and
shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?"

     God will bring their sins to their attention through the mouth of
Ezekiel. Just the fact that they were in the land, was a sin in God's
sight. He told them to go into captivity. They had not left the land,
or their evil ways. They still had all the sins present in their
lives, that the one's in captivity had been chastized for. They have
no right to the land. They have sided in with idols and false gods
against God.

     Ezekiel 33:26 "Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and
ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the
land?"

     God had told them to surrender. They disobeyed and fought. They
were involved in all sorts of sex deviations. Some of the false
worship they were involved in, had to do with promiscuous sex.

     Ezekiel 33:27 "Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
[As] I live, surely they that [are] in the wastes shall fall by the
sword, and him that [is] in the open field will I give to the beasts
to be devoured, and they that [be] in the forts and in the caves shall
die of the pestilence."

     They were rebellious against God, and He would allow them no
protection from Him. They would die from marauders, and from
pestilence. Even ravenous animals will hunt them down, and kill them.
They would not be able to hide from the judgement of God.

     Ezekiel 33:28 "For I will lay the land most desolate, and the
pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be
desolate, that none shall pass through."

     The fact that they stayed behind in Israel, will not save them.
You cannot hide from the judgement of God. He punishes them, where
they are. They had one more sin to add to their sins. They had
disobeyed God when He told them to surrender.

     Ezekiel 33:29 "Then shall they know that I [am] the LORD, when I
have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations
which they have committed."

     The judgements are so great that come upon them, they can no
longer say, it is for the sins of their fathers. They will know it is
for their own sins, and they will know this punishment came from God.

     Ezekiel 33:30 "Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people
still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the
houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying,
Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the
LORD."

     Now that the LORD has freed his tongue, he is speaking more
freely. Now, the people want to hear what he has to say.

     Ezekiel 33:31 "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and
they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they
will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, [but]
their heart goeth after their covetousness."

     They listen to Ezekiel, but they do not do what the message tells
them to do. They were warned, and did not receive the warning. They
did not want to give up their sins.

     Ezekiel 33:32 "And, lo, thou [art] unto them as a very lovely
song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an
instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not."

     They are hearing with their ears and not with their hearts. They
enjoy listening to Ezekiel, but they are not receiving the message in
the Words. They are not convinced enough to quit their sins.

     Ezekiel 33:33 "And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,)
then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them."

     The proof of a true prophet, is when his prophecy comes true.
                         Ezekiel 35 Questions


1.  What is different about this prophecy from the last one?
2.  Who are the "children of thy people"?
3.  What does this watchman do?
4.  Who is someone, in our society today, that is a watchman?
5.  What should the watchman do, if he sees danger coming?
6.  Why does the author believe there should be a sound of alarm going
    forth in our country today?
7.  What does God expect of His people?
8.  If the watchman blows the trumpet, and they do not hear, their
    sins are upon ________ _______ heads.
9.  He that taketh warning shall deliver his _____.
10. What was the message of John the Baptist?
11. What is the job of the watchman?
12. "Watchman" is speaking of whom?
13. Who does God hold responsible?
14. Why should the minister tell someone of his sin?
15. The penalty for unrepented sin is _________.
16. What is a fate worse than death?
17. What were the false prophets telling them?
18. What does "repent" mean, really?
19. Christians say you are born again, not of the ________, but of the
    __________.
20. Quote 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9.
21. God is willing to save you, are you willing to be saved?
22. What is verse 12 saying?
23. What is the reward for repenting and living right?
24. What ridiculous thing were the people saying in verse 17?
25. Quote Hebrews chapter 6 verses 4, 5, and 6. Quote John chapter 3
    verse 16.
26. What happens, if they do not receive the forgiveness He offers
    them?
27. When did this news of the fall of Jerusalem come to Ezekiel?
28. What does the author believe about Ezekiel's dumbness?
29. What are the rebellious children in Israel trying to do?
30. What were some of their sins mentioned in verse 25?
31. What will happen to them?
32. The people want to hear what __________ has to say.
33. Do they do what he tells them?