Today’s passage: Ezekiel 33
Helpful thoughts:
- After many prophecies concerning the nations surrounding Israel, the focus now returns to the people of Israel.
- Ezekiel is called the “Watchman” for Israel. He is responsible to warn the people concerning what he sees. How the people respond is their own responsibility.
- Those who are considered “Righteous” in the world’s eyes still fall short and have sin in their lives, which must be justly punished. But, those who are deemed as wicked can “surely live.” (Verses 12-16)
- The one thing that is needed for all of them to see the salvation of the Lord is…repentance. (Romans 10:9-13)
Questions to consider:
- Does God take pleasure in seeing the wicked suffer? What response is pleasing to God? (Verse 11)
- What does it appear the people were trusting in to get possession of the land in verses 24-26? Does it look like they understood that God had given the land and He could take it away, or did they think they were to occupy it in their own strength? What did they want more, to have the land or to be pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 5:9)?
- What kind of a situation is the passage in verses 30-33 describing? What were the people who listened to Ezekiel “enjoying?” What was the disconnect if they were “enjoying” his messages but continuing to live in sin and pursuing selfish gain? What might this look like if we saw it happening in our church buildings today?