

7.8 Ezekiel -- Watchman
Ezra, like Moses, took the place of mediator between God and the sinful Israelites (Ezra 9). Ezekiel's role was different. For one thing, it was too late for an intercessor to save the nation:
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"Even if these three men -- Noah, Daniel and Job -- were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness," declares the Sovereign Lord (Eze 14:14).
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Ezekiel was called specifically to be a watchman (Eze 3:16-21, Eze 33:1-9). At peril of his own life, he had to speak out to warn others and persuade them to change, to repent. We see the Lord directing him to open his mouth to judge or prophesy against groups of leaders, false prophets, or shepherds, or against Jerusalem or an entire nation. If he did not warn the unrighteous man and that man was condemned, God said
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"I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood" (Eze 33:6).
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"And whether they listen or fail to listen . . . they will know that a prophet has been among them" (Eze 2:5).
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This gave Ezekiel a personal stake in his utterances, and an urgency in his delivery!