Scripture Reading : Ezekiel 33
Theme : The Watchman of Israel
Invitation to Respond (1-20)
Ezekiel is Israel’s watchman who is responsible to warn Israel of God’s righteous judgement on their sins. If they do not repent, they can only blame themselves. In vv. 10-20, Ezekiel warns them again by correcting their perverse understanding of God. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but would rather have them repent. This does not contradict God’s sovereign grace to select people to save (Rom. 9:14-15). His decision to select people to save is based on many complex factors including believers’ intercession (1 Tim. 2:1-4), His desire to save, and His overall plan. We do not understand fully God’s sovereignty in salvation and man’s responsibility, but we are certain that God’s justice and character are never compromised by His sovereignty.
Refuting Foolishness (21-33).
After the fall of Jerusalem, people begin to doubt God’s promise to Abraham, which states his offspring would stay in the land forever. God refutes their misunderstanding by saying the Abrahamic promise is only for those who are committed to God and obeying His commands. Those who are uncommitted will not inherit the land. Only those who are of the promise are Abraham’s children (Rom. 9:8). The Jews who commit evil acts and treat God’s prophet, Ezekiel, with contempt will not inherit the land, aka God’s future restored kingdom on earth.
Praying the Scripture
God’s oracle serves as a warning to those who claim to be the people of God not to miss or pervert the lessons of history. It is tempting for survivors of disaster to interpret their fortune as a sign of personal merit instead of an act of divine grace. But apart from a commitment to the divine Lord and a spiritual sensitivity to his will, expressed in ready obedience, their is no title to the land or to any other blessings of God. The privilege of being a son or daughter of Abraham must be accompanied by a commitment to walk before the Lord and to be blameless in one’s conduct.[1]
[1] Block. The Book of Ezekiel, p. 263.
经文：以西结书33
主题：以色列的守望者
回转的邀请（1-20）。
以西结是以色列的守望者，负责警戒以色列有关神对他们罪孽的公义审判。他们倘若不肯悔改，便只能怪自己。在第10至20节中，以西结再一次警戒他们要纠正自己对神歪曲的理解：神不喜悦恶人死亡，宁愿他们悔改。这与神拣选人得救的主权性恩典并不冲突（罗9:14-15）。祂拯救罪人的决定是基于很多复杂的因素，包括信徒的代祷（提前2:1-4），神救人的意愿及神的总计划。就罪人得救一题，我们无法完全明白神的主权和人的责任的平衡点，但我们能肯定神的主权绝不会在神的公平和品性之外。
驳斥愚昧想法（21-33）。
耶路撒冷被攻破后，以色列开始怀疑神对亚伯拉罕的应许是否有效，因为其应许是亚伯拉罕的子孙将永远居住此地。神驳斥他们的曲解，解释其应许只给凡委身于神并遵守祂诫命的。违背神的人是不会得此地为业的。唯独那应许的儿女才算是亚伯拉罕的后裔（罗9:8）。作恶并鄙视神之先知以西结的犹太人是不会得此地为业，也就是神未来在地上复兴的国度。
用经文祷告
神的预言是要警戒凡自称是神之子民的不要忽视或曲解历史中的教训。灾民很容易将他们的存活理解成自己的功德而不是神的恩典。除了委身于神并对神的旨意产生属灵的敏感性外，即常常遵行神的旨意，无人能白白继承神的地和其他祝福。有幸作亚伯拉罕儿女的必然委身于主命，在行为上无可指摘。[1]
[1] Block. The Book of Ezekiel, p. 263.
