In Ezekiel 33, we read about the ministry of "the watchman." He
listens to God's Word and speaks the Word of warning to the people
(Ezekiel 33:7). He declares the love of God - "I don't want wicked
people to die ... I want them to turn from their ways and live" (Ezekiel
33:10). The warning is spoken as the voice of love, calling sinners to
draw back from the way that leads to death, to turn to the Lord and
live.
In Ezekiel 34, there is the promise of a new Shepherd for
the lost sheep. This is Good News. We are more than lost sheep. We are
the Lord's sheep. Without the Lord, we are lost. In Him, we are found.
God says, "I will search for My sheep Myself and I will look after them"
(Ezekiel 34:11). We read this, and our thoughts turn to Jesus, who came
to seek and to save the lost. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who laid down
His life for us. He is the Great Shepherd, who rose from the dead for
us. He is the Chief Shepherd, who is coming again for us. The Lord says
to us, "You, My sheep, are the sheep of My pasture." He says to us, "I
am your God" (Ezekiel 34:31).
In Ezekiel 35, we learn that it is
through His judgment as well as His salvation that we learn that the
Lord is God. It is important that we remember two things - (i) God's
purpose is salvation (John 3:17); (ii) His judgment comes upon us as a
result of our sin (John 3:18). The light of God's love shines brightly.
It is sin which brings darkness into our world. The darkness of our sin
is great. The bright shining light of God's love is greater. This is the
great love of God, revealed to us in Jesus Christ, the Light of the
world.
The great miracle of the new birth is described in Ezekiel
36:26 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you." We
cannot change ourselves. We must be changed by the Lord. He forgives our
sin. He gives us His Holy Spirit. He enables us to put the past behind
us and live the new life in the Spirit.
To the valley of dry
bones, the Word of God is spoken: "I will put My Spirit in you, and you
will live" (Ezekiel 37:14). It is only through the working of the Holy
Spirit that there can be blessing among God's people. It is only through
the Spirit's power that God's work is carried forward in the blessing
of many who are dead in their sins without God's saving grace. When the
Lord comes in power, everything changes. The dead are brought to life.
