The Watchman Of The True Shepherd

Today, we are going to skip ahead to Ezekiel 33:1-9 wherein we find one of the most important passages for any public preacher or teacher as God explains what “being his watchman” must understand to be consider faithful.

Ezekiel 33:1–3 ESV

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people,

Ezekiel 33:4–6 ESV

4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

The watchman of ancient times.

During ancient times each kingdom would set up watchmen along specific places wherein danger from an invading force might come to attack.

It was the responsibility of the watchman to give advanced warning to his kingdom so as to give the king and his army time to prepare for the upcoming battle headed their way.

If the watchman was watching like he was supposed to and gave the warning like he was supposed to his responsibility was fulfilled as a watchman.

In other words, whether the king did or did not heed the watchman’s warning was up to the watchman, his most important responsibility and duty to his kingdom was fulfilled.

However, if the watchman saw the danger and ignored it or was asleep on his job and did not warn the king of the impending danger the watchman had not fulfilled his duty and responsibility as a watchman.

In other words, the blood of his fellow kinsman was on his hands for not warning his kingdom of the danger.

It is this common practice and known tactic of these ancient times that God uses to explain to Ezekiel the vital importance of being “The Watchman Of The True Shepherd.”

What is “The Watchman Of The True Shepherd” supposed to do, we find that…

He Gives God’s Word

A Word From God’s Mouth.

In Ezekiel 33, after telling Ezekiel what we just read a moment ago in the first six verses God then tells Ezekiel in Ezekiel 33:7…

Ezekiel 33:7 (ESV)

7 So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.

It unfortunate that many preachers and teachers today seem to be more interested in being “liked” by mankind than liked by God.

The number of brethren that have never heard their local preacher & teachers teach on things like…

Divorce & Remarriage, gambling, addiction, social drinking, biblical worship, denominationalism, and the plethora of other change agents out there is staggering.

We have too many preachers and teachers that would rather “not rock the boat” than actually teach God’s word.

Right after graduating from high school, a number of the youth group where I grew up were moved “up” to the college class. The teacher asked if there were any topics we would like to study, and I will never forget his response the topic of the Holy Spirit. He said, “I don’t think it is a good idea to study the Holy Spirit due to the vast amount of controversies surrounding that topic.”

Not studying about God the Spirit because there are a lot of “controversies surrounding that topic” as absolutely asinine.

Preachers and teachers or “watchman for the true shepherd” are to preach and teach God’s word.

2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV)

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Ezekiel 2:7 (ESV)

7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.

Jeremiah 26:2 (ESV)

2 “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.

Acts 20:27 (ESV)

27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

1 Peter 4:11 (NKJV)

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God…

Summary

Preachers and teachers for the Lord are not to take this part of the watchman’s role flippantly.

James 3:1 ESV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

No, preachers and teachers must be diligent to preach God’s word, all of his word, and nothing but his word.

This means concerning God’s watchman that…

He Gives God’s Warning

He Sounds God’s Alarm.

Again let’s see what God says to Ezekiel, his watchman for the house of Israel.

Ezekiel 33:8–9 (ESV)

8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

Every preacher wishes he could preach on those things that are encourage and exhort all the time.

Wouldn’t it be great to do so, but the reality is we all sin (1 John 1:8-10) and need admonition from God’s watchman.

Now this admonition comes in two forms.

First, it comes in the form of warning about sin so as to give proper time to prepare for battle against such sin.

Hebrews 2:1 ESV

1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Acts 20:31 ESV

31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

Second, it comes in the form of correcting sin that is apart of the congregation.

2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV)

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Reprove here means, “to bring to light, expose, accuse…usually with the suggestion of putting the convicted person to shame.”

Ephesians 5:11 ESV

11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Rebuke here means, “to point out the dishonor of the sin and how it dishonors God.”

Psalm 51:4 ESV

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Exhort here means, “to urge the sinner to respond to the love of God and offer to work with them to hep lift them up out of this sinfulness.

Galatians 6:1–2 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Complete Patience or Longsuffering means, “to bear up under provocation, endure evil.”

Galatians 4:16 ESV

16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Summary

The fact of the matter is the watchman of the true Shepherd must warn people of sin and point out sin when it takes place.

Other wise he will answer to God for not doing so.

Conclusion

Not everyone is cut out for publicly preaching and teaching God’s word and thus being a watchman for God.

This become more and more apparent as the church falls further and further into apostacy and we loose more and more preachers every day.

“Bearing up under provocation and enduring evil” for teaching God’s word is hard for the majority of people and is why James 3:1 teaches what it teaches.

That is why everyone should strive so diligently to encourage and thus strengthen the faithful preachers and teachers, i.e., watchman for the truth Shepherd.

Especially the young or newly preaching or teaching men as they need that encouragement greatly.

I can’t tell you the number of preachers I talk with on a monthly bases that I have to try and talk “out of quitting preaching or teaching” because they have become some or many brethren’s enemy for telling them the truth.

I am most fortunate to be here in Ramona, where the truth is loved, God’s word is desired, and faithfulness is wanted.

Thank you for allowing me to have so much joy in preaching the truth and feeling the love from you all for doing such.

Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Acts 17:30 ESV

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Luke 14:33 ESV

33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 10:32–33 NKJV

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV

8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Romans 6:3–5 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

1 John 1:7 ESV

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

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