The Simple Life

And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: "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.” Ezekiel  3:16-17  (ESV)   Often on the ocean I have gone to the prow of the vessel and looked out into the darkness of the night. I have found the watchman not one moment from his post, his eye gazing far over the sea, where he might discern at the greatest distance and at the earliest moment any cause of possible danger. The lives of the crew and passengers were in his hands. The mist might come down heavily, the wind might blow furiously, the storm rage incessantly; but still on and ever the watchman looks out in the one direction. The whales may sport in multitudes around the vessel, the whole sea behind him be in a phosphorescent glow. His own great object is not to care for these things, but to look ahead! So you are watchmen. You are on the ship. The vessel may be...

And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: "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." Ezekiel  3:16-17  (ESV)   A watchman's job is to watch. The fight is not theirs. The strategy of war is not something about which they need to be concerned. They need to be concerned with watching. A faithful watchman stands on the wall or at other strategic spots and warns of impending danger. Watchmen need to be faithful, reliable people. Watchmen need to be those who communicate clearly, without delay, with the intent of the hearer responding to the message. They position themselves to see how the enemy operates, so that those in the city, on most days, can enjoy their peaceful lives.   A problem arises when those living peaceful lives ignore the watchman because of the plans they have made, in which case the watchman becomes annoying rather than protective. Tho...

Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house." 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. And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God,' whether they hear or refuse to hear." Ezekiel 3:8-11 (ESV)   God makes it clear that Ezekiel needs to let the people know that the authority with which he speaks comes from God. There is no debate, there is no campaign, and no vote, because God has spoken.   I find it amazing that adults can and will often act like little children. Ezekiel needs to be prepared for people's "ugly" looks. Those who are hopelessly lost and who want others to be lost with them become visibly angry with anyone who find...

But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Ezekiel 3:7 (ESV)   On a winter evening, when the frost is setting in with growing intensity, and when the sun is now far past the meridian, and gradually sinking in the Western sky, there is a double reason why the ground grows every moment harder and more impenetrable to the plough. On the one hand, the frost of evening, with ever-increasing intensity, is indurating the stiffening clods. On the other hand, the genial rays, which alone can soften them, are every moment withdrawing and losing their enlivening power. Take heed that it be not so with you. As long as you are unconverted, you are under a double process of hardening. The frosts of an eternal night are settling down upon your souls; and the Sun of Righteousness with westering wheel, is hastening to set upon you for evermore. If, then, the plough...

And he said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart." Ezekiel 3:4-7 (ESV)   God commands Ezekiel to speak, then tells him that his speech will not matter. Ezekiel has a choice between obedience and apparent success. He chooses obedience.   I am commanded to love. I cannot control the results of that love. I need to love my family, my friends, and my enemies, regardless of how they respond to me. This kind of love demonstrates commitment, whereas most modern day "love" demonstrates arrangements.   Christians...

And he said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Ezekiel 3:4-7 (ESV)   It's tough to speak to your hometown. A prophet and his message are usually not welcomed there, and your neighbors and acquaintances get upset when you challenge their lifestyles. You would think that those in your hometown, your family, would accept a message from God through you if you were a prophet, yet that usually does not happen. Perhaps when a prophet speaks to his home crowd, he actually knows about what to speak, and the truth becomes...