Daily Devotions
Ezekiel
"If you warn the righteous man"
Text: Ezekiel 3:21
WARNING THE RIGHTEOUS
That a word of warning must be given to the wicked is understandable. It would reflect on God’s mercy shown to them. But how may we understand the need to give a word to the righteous?
“Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity,
and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die;
because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin,
and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered;
but his blood I will require at your hand.
Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin,
and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning;
also you will have delivered your soul.”
Ezekiel 3:20-21
1. The righteous can falter.
a) Personal righteousness is not to be taken for granted.
b) The righteous man can falter and fail if he is not diligent.
2. The sad reality.
a) The righteous can turn from his righteousness.
b) He can commit iniquity.
c) He can stumble badly.
d) He may even die because of his iniquity.
3. Ezekiel must give him a word of warning.
a) The righteous man may sin terribly if he is not warned.
b) His righteous deeds will not be remembered.
c) He will die because of his iniquity.
d) If he is not warned, the watchman is held responsible.
e) God will hold the watchman responsible.
4. If a word of warning had been given.
a) The righteous has been warned.
b) He takes heed of the warning given.
c) He will live because he has taken heed.
d) The watchman has delivered his soul for he is not accounted guilty
of failure to give the word of warning.