Wed.’s Devo - The Watchmen

Read: Ezekiel 33:1-34:31; Hebrews 13:1-25; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 27:21-22 God said that when an army is coming against the people, the people of the land are to choose a watchman to see when the enemy is coming and sound the alarm to warn the people. If the people refuse to take refuge, then it is not the watchman’s fault. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm, then what happens to the people is his fault because he was suppose to warn them. Ezekiel was the watchman that God had selected to warn the people that the enemy was coming and they needed to repent or they would die in their sins. It was very simple. God didn’t want any of his people to die, but the choice was theirs. Righteous living would bring them life and sin lead to death. On the fifth day of the tenth month of the twelfth year, the word came from Jerusalem that the city had fallen. God told Ezekiel what the people were saying back in Jerusalem. They believed that if Abraham, being only one man gained possession of the entire land then surely they being many would be able to keep it. God asked them how they thought they deserved it since they were murderers, idolaters and adulterers. Their fate would be either death by the sword, wild animals, or disease. They had chosen death by their lifestyle. God told Ezekiel what the people were saying about him behind closed doors. They acted like they wanted to hear what he had to say, but had no intention of doing it. They spoke of lust and money. Ezekiel was entertainment to them. God had a message to the shepherds and leaders of Israel. They should have been the ones teaching them God’s laws and encouraging them to worship the Lord, but instead they preyed on the sheep and let them starve physically and spiritually. They only looked after themselves. Now God would hold them responsible for what happened to the people. To the people, the flock, God said he would judge them individually, separating the sheep from the goats. He would made a covenant of peace with the sheep and shower them with blessings in every way. They would have bumper crops, they would live in safely and they would no longer be a prey to other nations. They would know that they were God’s people and He was their god. Hebrews encourages us to love others as we love ourselves and treat people the way we want to be treated. We are to honor marriage and leave judging to God who sees everything. God is our source of supply, not money. We are to follow the example of good leaders and not be attracted by strange new ideas - God has not changed. Our example in life, death and worship is Jesus. He showed us how to die, how to live and how to please God. We are to obey our spiritual leaders whose job is to watch over our souls. They have to give an account over our souls like Ezekiel was responsible as a watchman over Israel’s soul. We should pray for our leaders like Paul asked for. We pray that their conscience is clear and that they live honorable in everything they do. May the God of peace equip us with all we need for doing his will. May he produce in us, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to God forever and ever!