Not the Righteousness of the Righteous

Not the Righteousness of the Righteous

Nor the Wickedness of the Wicked

Ezekiel Chapter 33

The Watchman

We do not know who edited the book of Ezekiel, whether it was Ezekiel himself, some contemporary student or scribe, or some later editor, but someone collected and recorded the prophetic sayings and actions of Ezekiel and formed them into the text of the book. The work of the editor is evident in the dramatic pause created by the prophecy to the nations in the previous chapters, and in the recapitulation in the first half of Chapter 33 of some points made in earlier chapters before moving on to new and important material.

God’s call for Ezekiel to be a watchman over the house of Israel, found in verses 1-9, is somewhat more elaborate, but essentially the same as the account in 3:16-21, where it is included as a part of Ezekiel’s call to the prophetic ministry.

Not the Righteousness of the Righteous

Nor the Wickedness of the Wicked

Verses 10-20 also reiterate an earlier theme, one that was discussed at some length in Chapter 18. This passage, particularly verse 12, puts the message to us a little differently, telling us that judgment is not about the “Righteousness of the righteous or the wickedness of the wicked.” The Lord knew us well (of course) and expected us to say that this does not sound like justice to us.

There is some explanation to be had in the passage. The Lord says, speaking strictly hypothetically, “if the righteous man trusts in his righteousness” and this is certainly something we can observe in the behavior of the people of Israel. They believed they were the holy people and that God was on their side, and they forget to be holy and to be one the side of the Lord. Further, the Lord says, in summary, that if the wicked man turns away from his sin, he has done what is right.

Righteousness is not something we obtain. It is not a cloak we put on, not a pill we take, not a place we can go and stay there and be righteous. Righteousness is a part of our ongoing relationship with God.

The City Has Fallen!

In verses 21 and 22 we read that word has come to the Babylonian exiles of the fall of the city of Jerusalem, and that the prophetic silence that had come upon Ezekiel since the time of his wife’s death was lifted.

Verses 23-29 tell of Israel’s corruptions and foretell their fate. They have broken the law of sacrifice, depended on their own strength instead of relying on the Lord and engaged in all kinds of immorality. As a result, many would be killed and others would be exiled. Many of the exiled would also suffer and die.

Why Will You Die?

We must consider why the editor of Ezekiel placed the reiteration of the call of the watchman and the nature of God’s justice here before the fall of the city of Jerusalem. It could be that it was to let the people know that they had been warned. They had a watchman, and the watchman delivered his message, and they did not listen. Further, they had depended on their own righteousness and that righteousness had failed them.

But, if this were merely a way for Ezekiel to wash his hands of them, then why would the passage have the voice of the Lord pleading “Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?”

Times were already bad for the people of Israel, and their last hope was about to fall, but their trust was misplaced. They believed themselves to be the chosen ones, and they forgot that they had been chosen; they believed themselves to be righteous, and they forgot who made them righteous.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

(1 John 1:8-10)