Ezekiel 33 - Introduction

Ezekiel Chapter s 33-39

The section begins with a reminder to Ezekiel that he is God's appointed watchman for the house of Israel. Then the news comes through of the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and Ezekiel is now released from his enforced dumbness and is free to speak again openly, and his ministry then transforms into one of warning and of hope for the future. God's people must repent and seek Him, but His promise is that He will visit His people and will bless them abundantly, although there are still great events to come as the enemies of God's people seek to destroy them. History must yet unfold but the end is sure.

Chapter 33 Ezekiel's Position as A Watchman Is Re-emphasised - Sad News From Jerusalem.

Ezekiel Is Appointed A Watchman. Mercy Is Offered to the Repentant (Ezekiel 33:1).

The ideas in these verses are repeated from earlier in the book. See Ezekiel 3:16 where Ezekiel was earlier appointed as a watchman and Ezekiel 18:21 where the promise of forgiveness to the repentant was made. Why then are they repeated here? The answer must be because Ezekiel is being prepared for and reminded of his pastoral task now that his earlier prophecies have been fulfilled, and in order to connect back with what has gone before.