PULELULU NOVEMA 22, 2023
Barking Watchman
Ko e Taulama ‘oku toe Kalou
EZEKIEL 3:17
"SON OF MAN, I HAVE MADE YOU A WATCHMAN FOR THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. WHENEVER YOU HEAR A WORD FROM MY MOUTH, YOU SHALL GIVE THEM WARNING FROM ME."
‘ISIKELI 3:17
Hako‘i-tangata, kuo u tuku koe ko e taulama ki he fale ‘o ‘Isileli: pea te ke ma‘u mei hoku ngutu ‘a e lea, pea te ke valoki kinautolu meiate au.
One whose job is to tzafah ("watch") is a tzofeh ("watchman"). A tzofeh was to keep his eyes peeled and ears pricked. People's lives were in his hands. Ezekiel was "a watchman for the house of Israel," but of a different variety. He warned them of the enemy, to be sure, but it turned out the enemy was already within the walls of the city. Israel's enemy was Israel. Ezekiel was to stand on Zion's walls and, unlike the blind watchmen of Isaiah's day, those "silent dogs" (56:10), Ezekiel was to bark. Whatever word fell from God's mouth into his ear was to exit the prophet's mouth into the ears of Israel. Some would repent and believe; others would not. But both parties would "know that a prophet [had] been among them" (2:5).
The Lord still plants watchmen on Zion's walls - our pastors. Like a good tzofeh, they "keep a close watch on [themselves] and on the teaching, " for by persisting in this, they will save both themselves and their hearers (1 Tim. 4:16) as they preach "Christ Jesus [who] came into the world to save sinners" (1:15).
"But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God
of my salvation. My God will hear me" (Mic. 7:7 NASB).
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