RTW August 16
The Responsibility of Being A Watch[wo]man
After seven days, the LORD gave me a message. He said, “Son of man, I have appointed you as watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.”
Ezekiel 3:16-17
My Takeaways
Something Old
I can’t control the outcome of my obedience no matter how hard I nag.
Something New
- Be God-appointed, not self-appointed. Don’t be a self-appointed watchman. A self-appointed watchman will repel rather than attract people.
- Be patient. (Ezekiel waited 7 days for a message)
- Be obedient with compassion and love.
- Be mindful: the response of the ones I’m watching over is not up to me
Something to Do
Have the right attitude about obedience.
My Takeaways: Be Obedient To God
Something Old: Loved the lesson, Wendy. God holds those who know the truth accountable to proclaim it. He holds those who hear the truth responsible for their response. If I refuse to tell others what I know, God will judge me. God wants my personal obedience and worship.
Something New: Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah had the important task of communicating God’s warnings and judgment in todays reading. Not by using words, but through visuals protraying the fate of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel demonstrated how the Babylonians would attack Jerusalem by drawing a map of the city on a large brick. He was also asked to lie down on his side for a total of 430 days, a reminder of the sins of the people. He was obedient in doing what God ask of him. Jeremiah wore an ox yoke as a symbol of bondage to let the people know that they must put themselves under Babylon’s yolk or be destroyed. He was obedient in doing what God ask of him. When Jeremiah stormed into the palace wearing an ox yoke; Hananiah tore it off and broke it, proclaiming that God would remove the yokes from the necks of His people and bring them back to Judah. Hananiah gave the people false hope and comfort, but not the truth. How difficult it must have been to hear these false prophets and know which prophets to listen to. This problem still exist today. In order to protect myself from false doctrine I must evaluate what I hear in light of God’s word. I have to practice discernment with what I read or hear. But worse than being deceived by false prophets is for me to deceive others. If I am to be a watch woman (as Wendy calls it) I must be cautious that what I have to say is correct according to His truths. I must always be faithful to God. Satan is in the business of deceiving by using others to try and lead me astray. I must keep my guard up because he can also use me to lead others astray, when I fail to obey and share God’s words completely, even in the details.
Something To Do: Be an Ezekiel and Jeremiah and not a Hananiah!
Loved your point about discernment – evaluate what we hear in light of God’s word. Good reminder!
Darena, thank you for all your nice comments. You are a great encourager.