Judgment was coming and Ezekiel was sent by God to warn them. But they persisted in doing evil. Here’s what the LORD says:

1. The Watchmen will be held responsible – The LORD says that if trouble is coming and the watchmen sounds the alarm, then if the person ignores the alarm, it’s their responsibility. But if a watchman doesn’t sound the alarm and others die, the blood is on the watchmen’s head because he didn’t sound the alarm loud and clear.
   
   I do believe we are the watchmen. We warn people of judgment and lead them to their escape.
   
2. The Plea to Repent-The LORD does not delight at all in the death of the wicked. He would much rather that they repent. He pleads with them to repent but never forces them. He doesn’t like to bring judgment but He will.
   
3. Persevering Righteousness – The LORD says that if there is a righteous person but he trusts in his righteousness and then commits sin, he will be held responsibility for his sin. But if there is a wicked person who comes to his senses and sees his sins, repents, and turns to God, his sins will be remembered no more.
   
   “That’s unfair!” they say. A man’s former righteousness will not be remembered but only when he turns to wickedness, and a wicked man’s sins will be forgotten when he returns to righteousness?
   
   Yes, the LORD says. And it’s not unfair. It’s they who are being unfair, wanting an excuse to live as they please.
   
4. Mute no More – The LORD had made Ezekiel mute for a spell. He was told that when Jerusalem fell, his speech would be restored. And when Israel fell in 568 BC, Ezekiel’s speech was restored at the news.
   
5. But Abraham!!! – The Israelites often proclaimed that they were safe because the covenant had made with Abraham (Gen 15) and they were the descendants. They used this as their excuse to sin.
   
   It happened throughout history so much that even Paul had to address this in Romans 6:1-2 – “Shall we go on sinning that grace may abound? By no means!”
   
   The LORD addresses those who had escaped the city. They thought they were fine and would rebuild as they were many. But the LORD says judgment would come to them as well. The sword, wild animals and plague would overtake them for their many sins. They had rebelled against God and had eaten meat with blood still in it, they worshiped idols, they killed innocent people and they sleep around freely with their neighbor’s wife (v. 25-26).
   
6. They listen to you like they care. They don’t. – Does this feel like some in church today? Read this:
   
   ³¹ So My people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest profit. ³² Yes, to them you are like a singer of love songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. They hear your words, but they don’t obey them.
   
   Yikes! People gather around you like they love, adore and appreciate you, but they don’t take your words to heart. They want you and they want their sin. They hear the word of the LORD but do not obey.

At the end of the day we see that it is about obedience. Obedience for the watchmen and consisten obedience for all people. He wants our best and he wants our joy, but it only comes through obeying what is right and righteous. Doing that which is sinful is destructive and it spreads.

As I was reading this I felt that I didn’t want to be like those people who sit at the feet of Jesus and do not do what he says. While there’s the overt sins that are obvious such as sexual immorality, lying, murder, etc… there are hidden sins of the heart that we all struggle with that are more clingy – unforgiveness, malice, slander, gossip, bitterness, etc… These too are the sins that can keep us from fruitfulness.