Regathering Part 4
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You Cannot Be Silent
You Cannot Be Silent
At this point of the series, we have uncovered the mystery of the imagery of the vision given by God to Ezekiel. We have discovered the context and how it is still alive and relative to us today as followers of the Christ. And we have identified the most important element, “What did God say?” So, what exactly did God say and how does it point to God’s ultimate plan of redemption through His Son Jesus Christ? This is extremely important because it all points back to Christ. Every prophecy, every event, every story, every act of God in each life reveals the blueprint of God’s redemptive plan for us.
knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
In Ezekiel 3:10, we see a better understanding of the intent of God for Ezekiel to “eat the scroll” or to take into his inner most being the Law of the Lord that God may speak it to Israel.
Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.
The word for “Heart” in Hebrew is lavav לֵבָב referring to the inner most being or the soul of a man or woman. To “receive” it means to “hear it” or to “Listen”, shama שָׁמַע meaning to obey what has been instructed. In God’s opinion, if you do not obey what He said, you did not hear, were not listening, and did not receive what He said. To not receive is to refuse.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Next, God commissions Ezekiel with a prophetic assignment. He appoints him as a “Watchman”, tzapa צָפָה meaning to shine brightly; to be an out-flow; to look out; to observe accurately; to judge between; to look to God.
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
So, God is commissioning Ezekiel, to not be a judge. Many people with this gift or assignment make the mistake of being the judge and they observe from their own opinions and personal biases. Instead, the “watchman” spends more time observing God than people. As such, they recognize what is righteous in God’s eyes opposed to that of men. The watchman becomes more than a watchtower look out for wickedness but a beacon of shining light that calls to righteousness. And the inner most being of the Prophet becomes an out-flow of the Word of God to the people around them. Thus, the Word of the Lord is accurately from the Law of the Lord not the Prophet’s opinion or personal indignation. Though he may speak a word of warning, it is still filled with God’s love and mercies.
The Hebrew word for “Warn” here illustrates this concept. It is the word zahar זָהַר meaning to admonish but also to teach and be to be the light. So, God is not only calling the Prophet to speak a verbal warning but to impart the warning to the heart who would receive and to demonstrate it that all might receive it.
A continued study of the book of Ezekiel will reveal the extremely high personal cost of this calling as a Watchman. The personal demonstration God demands of the Prophet seems inhumanly possible. But he does exactly as God commands.
But the key to this entire event what God commands the Prophet to speak. This will be God’s initial invitation to repentance before demonstrating the national and generational consequences of Israel’s refusal. Always keep in mind that there are no nations without generations. And generational actions affect nations and national actions present consequences for generations. And God is a God of nations and generations.
So, what did God say?
If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
When we read this we immediately want to focus on the fact that God is talking to those wicked people. But this is not just about the actions of the wicked but the inaction of the righteous. The main subject here is not the wicked but “YOU”. And note that the warning is God’s warning to the wicked but is you who are to bring it.
There is a level of responsibility and accountability here that not only belongs to the one committing wickedness but the righteous man or woman who chooses to say nothing or provide some soft, cultural, tolerant, coddling, compromising words of affirmation.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
This is your New Testament call as a “Watchman”. The Apostle Paul said, this:
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
The word “Prophesy” is more than giving a Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Foretelling, Forth-telling, encouraging, or making yourself heard to build a reputation and a ministry. It is the word naba נָבָא meaning to bubble over abundantly the words of the Lord under divine influence of the Holy Spirit; to sing praise to God with divine impulse.
It is tied to the concept of the “Watchman” to be the out-flow and light that draws people out of darkness, wickedness, and estrangement from their Heavenly Father and back into the glorious light of His redeeming grace. Grace that does not redeem with the redemptive work of the Cross of Christ is not grace at all but a compromising death sentence with a smile.
The word God uses here to Ezekiel is “Iniquity “ or aon עָוֹן meaning perversity; depravity; to be twisted with consequences to come.
But God says to Ezekiel, that God will require something of him if he does not get his act together and speak the word of warning to Israel just as God has said it.
It is so important to use God’s words not yours, not some preachers interpretation, opinion or commentary. God uses the word “Require”, baqas בָּקַשׁ meaning to demand; to exact the penalty for bloodshed. In other words, God says, a measure of the liability for his eternal separation from God will be held to your account of willful disobedience to love him enough to warn him as I have commanded you.
Now I know that seems heavy. But there it is. You who have received Salvation through the blood of Christ, who took that same penalty of Law upon Himself for your sin, have a grave responsibility that comes with that redemption. Christ was “The Prophet” of all Prophets who prophesied calling us unto redemption through His bloodshed having taken on our penalty for sin or rebellion against God’s righteousness.
But it does not end there. If you thought Salvation in Christ was just about giving a “Get out of Hell Free” card, “WRONG”! With great Salvation comes great responsibility. Look at what God command’s next of us:
Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand.
God just get’s rid of all your excuses to remain silent while sinful compromise runs rampant. Now there is an order of correction and discipline established in the Church through the New Testament Scriptures. You have Pastors and Elders and such to bring correction. But that does not equate to your silence. Nor is this a license to gossip. You have authority where you have accountability. You have accountability where you responsibility. You have responsibility where you have relationship.
The “Righteous Man” referred to here is the man or woman who lives tzadiq צַדִּיק meaning virtuous; lawful; justified by God.
As your Pastor, I have the responsibility to speak into your life. But I would hope that I have more than permission by means of authority in title but by relationship in the righteousness of Christ Jesus. I would pray you know the motives of my heart and the love emulated through the sacrifice of my life to serve our Lord and to serve you.
Those God has given in your life to love, love them indeed and be not silent unto their destruction. Let the light of Christ speak and lead them in the righteousness of Christ Jesus.
The Prophet Ezekiel’s encounter with God transformed him and God’s command to him is a reflection of the work of Christ and the call of the church to a dying world around us.
But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.
Sadly, there will be those who will not receive God’s warning.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
There will many who refuse (hadal חָדַל; forego; leave undone; do nothing; reject opportunity). Your responsibility is to live righteous and speak when, where, and to whom God says speak. Do not lower your standards or compromise God’s. But call others up to righteousness.
One might think that at a cursory read of this entire book that it is all about God’s wrath and judgment. But it is not. Indeed His judgment and justice is evident throughout. But it is all really a call to His great love. Like a child, you can either see God through the eyes of judgment or you can see through His eye of mercy.