Ezekiel - The Sentinel of Israel

philologos

This passage came across my mind in my reading of the Bible the other night and I just thought it might be beneficial to post it here for discussion, and for thought:

Ezekiel 33:1-9 wrote:

The word of the Lord came to me: O Mortal, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one of their number as their sentinel; and if the sentinel sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people; then if any who hear the sound of the trumpet do not take warning, and the sword comes and takes them away, their blood shall be upon their own heads. They heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; their blood shall be upon themselves. But if they had taken warning, they would have saved their lives. But if the sentinel sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any of them, they are taken away in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at the sentinel’s hand.
So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die’, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

Ezekiel is told that he is the sentinel of Israel, it is his job to warn the about their punishment and to lead them to repentance.

Ezekiel is told that if he warns the people of Israel and if they do not listen, they will die. However, if he doesn't warn Israel of their sins, and if they are punished. He too will have to die as a result of his disobedience to the LORD.

I'm just curious does this have any bearing in a modern Christian context in warning our friends and family or even strangers about the judgement of God that is to come if people do not repent before the day of Judgement.

JimiTime

Jakkass wrote: »

This passage came across my mind in my reading of the Bible the other night and I just thought it might be beneficial to post it here for discussion, and for thought:




Ezekiel is told that he is the sentinel of Israel, it is his job to warn the about their punishment and to lead them to repentance.

Ezekiel is told that if he warns the people of Israel and if they do not listen, they will die. However, if he doesn't warn Israel of their sins, and if they are punished. He too will have to die as a result of his disobedience to the LORD.

I'm just curious does this have any bearing in a modern Christian context in warning our friends and family or even strangers about the judgement of God that is to come if people do not repent before the day of Judgement.

I think yes. I think it is mirrored in Jesus' illustration about the gold coins. The whole thing about not keeping the good news to yourself. IMO, they are based on the very same principal.

Phototoxin

Also completely off topic but seeing as its about ezekiel and no doubt you are all reading it now in anticipation to post but it has the line about the foreigners gentils being like that of a horse.

It hardly seems fair. It seems realistic : if sentenil says baddies run! then they can be saved. if they ignore the sentinel then they get killed. IF the sentinel doens't do anything the sentinel and some will be killed before the rest escape (hopefully)

parallelling to christianity. IF you dont do your part to evangalise then you suffer and others but if you do you're fine and only those who ignore you suffer. However this is my main problem with Christianity. A perfect god will still allow innocents to suffer because of the failings of others. In real life yes this is ok but god is supposed to be beyond this and all powerful.

Also please do not let this derail and sorry if it seems aggro - I'm hypoglycemic

philologos

Funny that you mention that Phototoxin, further on in the passage it discusses the complaints of the Israelites:

Ezekiel 33:17-20 wrote:

Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just', when it is their own way that is not just. When the righteous turn from their righteousness, and commit iniquity, they shall die for it. And when the wicked turn from their wickedness and do what is lawful and right, they shall live by it. Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, I will judge all of you according to your ways.

As for your objections to God allowing bad things to happen. God does not desire people to be punished. Keeping it Ezekiel 33 centric:

Ezekiel 33:11 wrote:

Say to them, as I live says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die O house of Israel

It seems to me more that people will be assessed on the day of Judgement. If they have accepted God's offer of salvation, they will be saved. However, those who are not among the elect will be punished to the full scale of their sin because they have not accepted the offer of salvation.

The curious part is the threat of punishment to Ezekiel for not spreading the word to the people around him. It seems familiar to the Parable of the Talents, but in the New Covenant there doesn't seem to be that punishment on the same scale which is curious.

I am not really sure about the ins and outs of the passage of Ezekiel 33 which is why I have put it up for discussion. I have plenty of questions about Ezekiel 34 which I will introduce as the thread goes on. I'm becoming amazed at how much significance the Jewish scripture seems to have in a Christian context.

Phototoxin

It seems to me more that people will be assessed on the day of Judgement. If they have accepted God's offer of salvation, they will be saved. However, those who are not among the elect will be punished to the full scale of their sin because they have not accepted the offer of salvation

but what happens to those who no fault of their own are not saved or those like me who (as far as I can discern) cannot genuinely believe in God? In all fairness saying 'oh you will be punished raaaarrr!' doesn't make me want to return to the fold. The whole turn or burn element fundamentally inherent in a lot of Christianity helped put me off it too.

JimiTime

Phototoxin wrote: »

but what happens to those who no fault of their own are not saved or those like me who (as far as I can discern) cannot genuinely believe in God?

God is Just. Those who perish will have been justly dealt with. No-one 'deserves' to be saved, those who are, should be thankful for recieving the undeserved gift. Those who don't, have nothing to complain about as salvation is not deserved, or an entitlement or anything.

Phototoxin

See I disagree. As if you are not saved you are damned and why must damnation be the default? that hardly seems fair either? (this also ties into Original sin I guess )

Fanny Cradock

Very interesting question. Can't get to it right now, though.

PDN

Let me preface my comments by saying that we don't know the destiny of those who don't hear the Gospel. I don't see how that information is given in Scripture. However, I don't think the issue is one of fairness - more of personal responsibility.

If things were fair then everyone would go to hell (except infants and the severely mentally handicapped) because we all freely choose to sin. God is under no obligation to offer salvation to anyone since none of us deserve it.

So, the very act of offering a free pardon to anyone at all is more than fair. If God only offered the Gospel to one individual in the history of the entire race then that would be an incredible act of mercy to that individual - but no-one else would have any grounds for complaint. God is not obligated to offer salvation to everyone just because He offers it to one.

By the same reasoning, if the Gospel is offered to 5 billion people on the earth today then that is a wonderful opportunity for them to receive an undeserved gift - but God is not therefore obligated to offer salvation to the remaining 1 billion.

However, if we as Christians are commanded to declare the Gospel to all people then we are obligated to do so. Therefore, if we fail to obey this command, we are guilty and the neglected person is denied an opportunity to experience Christ, but God is not unfair.