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God Appoints Ezekiel as a Lookout
Ezekiel 33:7-11
Good News Translation (GNT)
7 "Now, mortal man, I am making you a lookout for the
nation of Israel. You must pass on to them the warnings
I give you.
8 If I announce that an evil person is going to die but you
do not warn him to change his ways so that he can
save his life, then he will die, still a sinner, and I will hold
you responsible for his death.
9 If you do warn an evil person and he doesn't stop sinning,
he will die,still a sinner, but your life will be spared."
Individual Responsibility
10 The Lord spoke to me. "Mortal man," he said, "repeat to
the Israelites what they are saying: 'We are burdened with
our sins and the wrongs we have done. We are wasting
away. How can we live?'
11 Tell them that as surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the
living God, I do not enjoy seeing sinners die. I would
rather see them stop sinning and live.
Israel, stop the evil you are doing.
Why do you want to die?
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Commentary taken from 'New Bible Commentary
21st Century Edition ivp'
'The scope of accountability'
Ezekiel is to act as a watchman for Israel.
Along with the job come both
responsibilities and penalties.
The oracle goes on to attack two notions about the nature of Israel's sin.
The first was a kind of fatalism,
where people maintained they were trapped
in their own wrongdoing,
that God even was glad to see them in such a state
(and thus, there was no point in even trying to change).
This idea is rebuffed:
God takes no pleasure
in the death of even the wicked.
It was up to them to change their ways.
The second notion was that people
built up a store of merit.
Thus a lot of good deeds
could be used to offset a lot of bad ones.
Ezekiel must proclaim to his countrymen:
'Suppose a country is threatened by war,
and that a certain individual
is called to the job
of giving advance warning of any attack.
If that person sounds the alarm
when attack is near,
then any responsibility for casualties
will rest with the citizens themselves.
But if the alarm is not sounded
when attack is near,
that person will be held responsible
for the death of any of the citizens'.
Ezekiel has been given that job
for the Israelites.
He is to convey to them the warnings God sends.
If he does not convey those warnings
to anyone he will be held responsible
for that person's fate.
But if he does,
he will have saved himself.
Ezekiel is further to proclaim to Israel:
'You say that you are burdened
to death by your sins.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked.
Although you, Israel,
say that my way is unjust,
it is your way that is unjust.
Each of you will be judged accordingly'.
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