“Ye Shall Know That I Am The Lord” Ezekiel “Ye Shall Know That I Am The Lord”

Ezekiel Lessons 19 – Ezekiel 33 Ezekiel’s Role as a Watchman (33:1-9) Responsibilities of the watchman and those he warns (33:1-6, Numbers 10:1- 10; Amos 3:6; 1 Cor. 14:8; Jeremiah 6:17) Ezekiel is Judah’s watchman. He is charged with warning the people on God’s behalf. (33:7-9) Christians have a similar responsibility (Acts 20:26-27) Amos 3:6  If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it? 1 Corinthians 14:8  For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? Jeremiah 6:17  Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.'

Ezekiel Lessons 19 – Ezekiel 33 The Justice and Mercy of God (33:10-20) The people of Judah despaired of life (33:10) But God would still give life to those who turned from evil (33:11) God grants life to those who repent (33:12-16; 18:30-32; Acts 11:18; 3:19; Luke 13:3, 5) God is fair and just! (33:17-20) Acts 11:18  When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.“ Acts 3:19  Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, Luke 13:2-5  And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?  3  I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.  4  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?  5  I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

Ezekiel Lessons 19 – Ezekiel 33 Reaction to Jerusalem’s Destruction (33:21-33) The captives receive word that Jerusalem is destroyed (33:21-22) Those in Jerusalem assume that their numbers and status as heirs of Abraham would assure future peace and prosperity (33:23-24) Instead, their hypocrisy and stubbornness assured their destruction (33:25-29; Joshua 23:14-16; John 8:33-42; cf. Jeremiah 40-44) Joshua 23:14-16  "Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.  15  Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the LORD your God promised you, so the LORD will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.  16  When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you."

Ezekiel Lessons 19 – Ezekiel 33 Attitudes toward Ezekiel’s Preaching (33:30-33) God’s word must penetrate to the heart! (33:30-31) Appreciating a good sermon without applying it is more than USELESS! (33:32; Matthew 15:7-9; James 1:21-25) The truth of God’s word will be demonstrated, but it may be too late for those who rejected it (33:33; John 12:48) Matthew 15:7-9  Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:  8  'THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME.  9  AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.’ “ James 1:22-25  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  24  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  25  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.