It was my observation that seven days have passed since the vision of Chapter 1 started. He started that vision on a Sabbath and this session is on a sabbath.

Ezekiel 3: 16 -19 says — At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so, hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die fortheir sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.” [NIV]

He that had been musing and meditating on the things of God all the week was fit to speak to the people in God’s name on the sabbath day, and disposed to hear God speak to him. He was eased back into the real world with him resisting (see Ezekiel 3:14). Now we see a slightly different tone. He knows his duty. He looked for a way to delay the beginning of his ministry and was rebuffed. I do not think it is wise for us to believe that we will reach a level where the taskings are easy and intimate ‘face time with the boss’ occurs often. God tells his man what the work is all about, defines his duties and places parameters on the messaging. In this regard, we should note God’s approach to leadership.

Here was Ezekiel, hanging out, having said little at this point. He went from the mountain top to the outhouse all in seven days. He is among his people when God appears again. He tells Ezekiel to get to work, the people have a right to know and a responsibility to respond. Ezekiel has been appointed the watchman, the giver of news, the disturber of their peace, a protector against thieves, he is the watchman. His job is to watch for the enemy and sound the alarm upon the first appearance of danger, he is the watchman (see Isaiah 21:8, Isaiah 62:6).

For a Roman soldier, being a watchman is a specific type of Job. It is a cut above the normal soldier. They fight the silent battle of security. They know the rules. Eyes open. Head moving. Ears open. Listening. Focus. Failure is not an option. If they are on this task, they risk the enemy sneaking up to them and taking their life. On the other hand, they are held accountable with their life for maintaining a safe perimeter. If they fail to warn about danger, they lose their life in the morning. They know their task is indispensable – they take their job seriously. They are needed (see Psalms 127:1-2). They are rewarded.

Ezekiel is very comfortable to be one on one with God, he pulls back from the crowds, even during his workday and he is comfortable to converse with God, to hear him, to commune with him. If we were looking for peace, what better place to be than talking with God. Ezekiel willingly entered into these visions; they were the eye of the Hurricane for him. No stress here! He was safe, protected, and basking in God’s glory. I could not imagine a better place to be. Where else should he desire to be? If we have experienced communion with God, I cannot imagine Ezekiel preferred anything but that. It far exceeded any mere conversing with the House of Isreal on earth.

However, we know that Ezekiel is a watchman. He is on task. He is accountable for his work. He needs to get up and speak; he needs to do the work of God. So do we. I choose Jesus.