The Lord has set individuals in His Church as watchmen. They take their posts on the walls of our lives as a representation of God’s mercy. The interpretive lens through which a true watchman views the surrounding world is the love of God. As the watchman offers his warning, it can disrupt the assumptions of those who do not yet see what the watchman sees.

“When watchmen see the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people” (Ezekiel 33: 3). Ezekiel continues relaying God’s instruction saying to Ezekiel “If those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their fault if they die” (vs.4). The Lord always provides His people with a watchman’s warning to announce the consequence of their sin.

The greater sin is the sin of silence on the part of a watchman when they see an enemy approaching and choose to remain silent, “But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths” (vs. 6). When an enemy approaches, a righteous fear of God overtakes the watchman motivating them to declare the truth of what they see happening no matter the rejection or mockery they may receive from their announcement.

After offering these instructions, the Lord gave Ezekiel a personal life assignment, “Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me” (vs. 7). A watchman must be able to hear and then transmit what the Lord says without any personal varnishing or enhancement offering just the simple truth. 

This conversation about watchmen reveals one significant thing – the heart of God, “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live” (vs. 11). As the warnings are announced by His watchmen, God offers a cleansing of past sins saying to those who will obey His warning, “None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live” (vs. 16). Even the vilest and most despicable of past sins are forgiven by the love of God if someone hears the warning and obeys.

When a watchman’s warning is heard and obeyed with a repentant heart, it will bring freedom. If a watchman speaks without understanding God’s heart, they will be making the sound of a religious spirit that only seeks to punish the hearers, not rescue and redeem them. To hear and understand the heart of God will prepare us for whatever is coming knowing we now rest in the faithful arms of God.