[:en]SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 33
“Say to them, “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11)
“Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, “The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, I he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness” (Ezekiel 33:12)
“If If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so” (Ezekiel 33:18-19)
“My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain” (Ezekiel 33:31
EZEKIEL A WATCHMAN (vs. 1-20)
God had ordained Ezekiel to be a watchman. He was to warn the people about the coming sword by blowing the trumpet. He had to speak out and dissuade the wicked man from his ways. If the watchman did not warn the wicked man to turn from his ways, and he died for his sin, God will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.
If a righteous man trusts in his righteousness and does evil, his righteousness will not be remembered and he will die. If a wicked man turns away from his sin anddoes what is just and right, he will surely live (vs. 12; 16)
JERUSALEM’S FALL EXPLAINED (vs. 21-33)
The people in Jerusalem heard the message of the Lord but did not put them into practice. They express devotion with their mouth but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. It is like singing love songs with a beautiful voice and well-played instrument but their is no love at all in their hearts. What God wants is obedience to His Word.
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