QT 28/08/2025 Thu. Ezekiel 33 The Watchman and the Call to Repentance 守望者与悔改的呼召

QT 28/08/2025 Thu. Ezekiel 33 The Watchman and the Call to Repentance
READ http://www.esv.org/eze33

📜 Scripture Focus:

“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.”
— Ezekiel 33:7, ESV

🧭 Context:

In Ezekiel 33, God reaffirms Ezekiel’s role as a watchman — someone who sees danger and sounds the alarm. The chapter transitions from declarations of judgment to a renewed call for repentance, emphasizing personal responsibility and God's desire for the wicked to turn and live.

🔥 Reflection:

God is not silent. He speaks to His people and raises up watchmen—prophets, preachers, believers—who are to sound the alarm when danger is near. In Ezekiel 33, this danger is not just physical destruction; it's spiritual death due to persistent sin and rebellion.

But here’s the heart of the Gospel message found even in the Old Testament:

“As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”
— Ezekiel 33:11, ESV

This is God’s heart. He is just—but also merciful. He calls people to repentance not to condemn, but to save. God takes no pleasure in judgment. He longs for His people to return.

And now, through Christ, the ultimate Watchman and Shepherd, the call to repentance becomes a call to life—abundant and eternal. Jesus took the punishment that sin deserves, so that when we turn to Him, we are not only spared, but we are welcomed, forgiven, and restored.

🙋‍♂️ Personal Application:

(1) Are you listening to the warnings of God's Word—or tuning them out?
God still speaks through Scripture, conviction, and community. Are we willing to hear and respond?

(2) Are you living as a watchman for others?
Christians are called to speak truth in love, warning others of sin’s consequences while pointing them to Jesus.

(3) Have you truly turned from your sin—or are you merely avoiding consequences?
Repentance isn’t just regret. It’s a turning—toward God. He is patient and ready to forgive, but the time to return is now.

🙏 Prayer:

Lord, thank You for being a God who warns and saves. Thank You that You take no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desire that all should come to repentance. Help me to hear Your voice, respond with a soft heart, and be a faithful witness to others. Give me courage to be a watchman in my own generation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

🎯 Key Takeaway:

God’s warnings are an act of mercy. Repentance is the path to life. And through Jesus, the door is always open (while it is open) but would shut one day, like in the days of Noah with his ark.

QT 28/08/2025 星期四 . 以西结书 33 守望者与悔改的呼召
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Eze/33/

📜 经文重点：

“人子啊！我立了你作以色列家守望的人，所以你要聆听我口中的话，替我警告他们。——以西结书33:7.

🧭 背景：

在以西结书33章中，上帝再次确认以西结作为守望者的角色——一个看到危险并发出警报的人。本章从对审判的宣告过渡到对悔改的重新呼召，强调个人责任以及上帝希望恶人悔改并得救的意愿。

🔥 反思：

上帝并非沉默。祂向祂的子民说话，并兴起守望者——先知、传道人、信徒——在危险临近时发出警报。在以西结书33章中，这种危险不仅是物理上的毁灭，更是因持续的罪恶与叛逆而导致的属灵死亡。

但这就是即使在旧约中也能找到的福音信息的核心：

你要对他们说：‘主耶和华这样宣告：我指着我的永生起誓，我绝不喜悦恶人死亡，却喜悦恶人离开他所行的，得以存活。以色列家啊，回转吧！离开你们所行的，何必死亡呢？’——以西结书33:11

这是上帝的心意。祂是公义的——但也是仁慈的。祂呼召人悔改，不是为了定罪，而是为了拯救。上帝不喜悦审判。祂渴望祂的子民归回。

如今，借着基督——这位终极的守望者与牧者，悔改的呼召便成了生命之召——丰盛且永恒的生命。耶稣承担了罪所应得的刑罚，因此当我们转向祂时，我们不仅得蒙拯救，更被接纳、赦免并恢复。

🙋‍♂️ 个人应用：

(1) 你是否在倾听上帝话语的警告——还是选择忽视？
上帝仍通过圣经、良心和教会群体说话。我们是否愿意倾听并回应？

(2) 你是否在为他人守望？
基督徒被召唤以爱说出真理，既警告他人罪的后果，又引导他们归向耶稣。

(3) 你是否真正悔改了你的罪——还是只是在逃避后果？
悔改不仅仅是后悔。它是转向——转向神。祂是慈爱的，随时准备赦免，但归回的时机就是现在。

🙏 祷告：

主啊，感谢祢是那位警告并拯救的神。感谢祢不喜悦恶人的死亡，而是愿所有人都悔改。求祢帮助我听见祢的声音，以柔软的心回应，并成为他人忠实的见证。赐我勇气，在我这一代成为守望者。奉主耶稣的名。阿们。

🎯 关键要点：

上帝的警告是怜悯之举。悔改是通向生命的道路。而通过耶稣，这扇门始终敞开，但它终将关闭，就像挪亚时代方舟关闭的那一天。