My Thoughts on Ezekiel's Double Responsibility as a Priest and Watchman
Ezekiel is a book that takes place after the captivity of Babylon. We can see that Ezekiel (whose name means God strengthens) was first called on the fifth year of Jehoiachin's captivity. Zedekiah his uncle (brother of Jehoiakim) was made the king by Nebuchadnezzar. Later, we would read the calling of Ezekiel's introduction that he was a Levite (since only those from Levi are to serve as priests). Ezekiel was already part of the exile. It's estimated that he was 25 years old when he was exiled and had a ministry from 597 B.C. up to 571 B.C. - a total of 26 years. Ezekiel was already a priest then he was called a prophet. The prophet was God's spokesperson. The priest was God's representative. These were two different offices. Yet, Ezekiel was both a prophet and a priest. Jeremiah was also from the Tribe of Levi. I would say Ezekiel was a type of Christ as Jeremiah was. Yet, none of them fulfilled all three offices at one that Jesus did - prophet, priest, and king. Ezekiel was also married (Ezekiel 24:16) whom he had later lost against the Babylonian armies.
The theme of Ezekiel tends to be tied to dry bones. Yet, the bigger theme of Ezekiel is the watchtower or the watchman. The mission of Ezekiel is further elaborated on in chapters 2 and 3. Ezekiel was later given the task of being the watchman over the rebellious population. Not a very glamorous job, now, isn't it? Yet, that's what he was called to do. Ezekiel 3:17-21 and Ezekiel 33 repeat the same warnings about people. People were to be warned about dying in their sins. It was also a warning of physical death. Ezekiel is given the tremendous task of warning both the humanly righteous and the wicked. Ezekiel 33:13 warns about self-righteousness - a huge problem that's also sending people to Hell today as much as people who love their sins. Ezekiel is definitely not what I am and what I wish I were. I wish I had a bolder spirit to warn people than to cower away or get involved with nonsense. Ezekiel, as Vernon McGee describes him, is as hard as a hickory nut!
The Old Testament priest is the counterpart of the New Testament pastor. Leviticus 21:13 requires the priests to be married to virgins. The New Testament in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 requires pastors (also called bishops in the KJV) or as an overseer in the modern versions. The Greek word is episkope. Thayer's definition also calls it someone who does investigation, inspection, and visitation. An overseer was also, in some sense, a watchman for the flock. Today, we tend to associate Ezekiel's job as a watchman with the responsibility of keeping people secure above the watchtower. Every priest in the Old Testament was an overseer. The New Testament pastor is given the job as an overseer to warn their flock and the unsaved of danger. We call them pastors today though the Bible calls these men episkope or bishops.
The very responsibility of Ezekiel can be considered double. The priest in the Old Testament was in charge of the spiritual affairs of Israel. The priest was representing God and foreshadowing the things to come by handling animal sacrifices. The responsibility of the priest was tremendous such as making sure nothing unsuitable was done in the worship of God. The prophet was to declare God's warnings and judgment. The prophet didn't necessarily come from the Tribe of Levi. Ezekiel himself was now holding two offices - as a priest and a prophet. Today, both offices are officially gone since the New Testament priesthood is for all believers (1 Peter 2:9). Anybody attempting to create a New Testament priesthood is guilty of trying to stitch up the veil that was torn. Every believer in Christ today is a priest, in the sense, that they now have equal access to God. Ezekiel was simply a shadow to the one who'd come as a prophet, priest, and king - our Lord Jesus.
The very responsibility of Ezekiel can be considered double. The priest in the Old Testament was in charge of the spiritual affairs of Israel. The priest was representing God and foreshadowing the things to come by handling animal sacrifices. The responsibility of the priest was tremendous such as making sure nothing unsuitable was done in the worship of God. The prophet was to declare God's warnings and judgment. The prophet didn't necessarily come from the Tribe of Levi. Ezekiel himself was now holding two offices - as a priest and a prophet. Today, both offices are officially gone since the New Testament priesthood is for all believers (1 Peter 2:9). Anybody attempting to create a New Testament priesthood is guilty of trying to stitch up the veil that was torn. Every believer in Christ today is a priest, in the sense, that they now have equal access to God. Ezekiel was simply a shadow to the one who'd come as a prophet, priest, and king - our Lord Jesus.
Ezekiel, like Jeremiah, was probably called to be a prophet because most of the priests have abandoned their mission. Reading through Jeremiah really tells you how much the priesthood has become so corrupt. Jeremiah 5:31 perfectly summarizes the problem in Jeremiah's time - the prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule in the direction of waywardness. Jeremiah contained warnings against wayward shepherds (translated as pastors) and towards the priests who ignored their works. Jeremiah 23:11 even says that the prophet and priest are profane in that day. Jeremiah, as a priest, was called to be a prophet, to expose the corruption of the priesthood of his day.
Ezekiel's responsibility is that heavy. It was said that if he doesn't do his job then the blood will be on his hands. The idiom has been attributed to a lack of duty or to someone's murderous action. The term can be used for people like doctors, soldiers, rescuemen, firemen, and policemen that the blood is on their hands if they neglect their jobs. Ezekiel in his job as a watchman or one who warned of impending danger. He was tasked to warn stubborn and rebellious people about their actions. He had to warn them whether they would listen or not. What's attached to the warning was also an assurance. It's pretty much like saying that if you don't believe me then that's your problem. It's like a lifesaver should just leave a stubborn person alone or nobody should be rescued against their will. A doctor can only treat a patient when he or she is cooperative. Ezekiel was told that he can only warn people and that it's up to them to believe his message or not.
Ezekiel would also portray not just the responsibility to witness but also to pastors today. God gave the priests tremendous responsibility as the spiritual guides for Israel. However, massive apostasy has caused much condemnation of the priests in Jeremiah. The priests were walking in the ways of wickedness instead of their Levite heritage from Aaron. Ezekiel was called to do that job because most of the priests during his time walked waywardly. It has become a problem in today's pulpits that many pastors today aren't saved. I doubt it that those wayward priests were saved either. Pastors have the responsibility to be watchmen over the flock and to set up missions. They are to really have Ezekiel's conviction and not be afraid to proclaim God's truth. A church that doesn't go to preach the Gospel deserves to be questioned of its authenticity. Pastors need to be as hard as Ezekiel and expose the fake pastors within their midst. Pastors need to have that sense of being like Ezekiel by God's grace.
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