Bloody Hands

“If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he [the watchman] blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. … 6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.” Eze. 33:3-6

When God gave His words to Ezekiel, as recorded in Ezekiel 33:1, He first gave the prophet an example so he would understand the importance of the task he was to be given. The parable was about a watchman that was selected and placed in a position to observe any enemy entering the country.

If the guard saw the enemy arriving in the land, he would blow a warning trumpet (Eze. 33:3). The watchman was not responsible, if any perished for not heeding the trumpet’s blast in either fleeing or facing the enemy; their blood was not “on his hands”. He was not guilty of any deaths (Eze. 33:4), if they occured.

However, if the lookout saw the enemy coming, and did not alert the people with the instrument’s warning sound, the deaths of any slain were on his hands. He was guilty of their demise (Eze. 33:6). His negligence made him accountable (Eze. 33:6) for their shed blood. Their blood was “on his hands”.

Ezekiel was then given the task by God to be the nation’s watchman (Eze. 33:7). It was not so much a physical enemy he was to warn his people of, nor was he to man a trumpet and perch high on an observation post. The prophet’s task was to take the warnings God gave him, and make sure God’s people heard His words. After Ezekiel delivered the message, it was then up to the people what they did with the warnings. The rest of the book’s chapters revealed that Ezekiel did fulfill his commission.

Today, according to God’s Word, there are no longer prophets (I Cor. 13:8), no matter what many claim. All God wants us to know is preserved within the pages of the King James Bible, so there is no longer a need for one to give us the message from God’s lips, as did Ezekiel.

However, since we have God’s Word it is still imperative that all hear His message. Every Christian is not only responsible to read God’s Word and to obey it, but he is responsible to make sure as many as possible hear God’s warnings. We are to be watchmen warning of a hot Hell, telling of the one Way (Jesus) to avoid it, and telling all we can how God wants us to live. Yet, most Christians have not done what is expected of them. There is blood on many hands!

God’s name is cursed, while most are silent. Our Savour is mocked and ridiculed, yet not much is said. Many live an ungodly life, yet nary a word that would help them leaves most Christians’ lips. Most around us have never trusted Christ as their Saviour and are doomed for a hellish eternity, yet not a word is offered to rescue them from their doom. Too many of today’s watchmen are silent!

Their warning “trumpets” are hushed as many are never warned of God’s words. There is innocent blood on too many hands. Oh, that we would have diligent, bold watchmen, that would sound the warnings God wants us to announce. Sound the trumpet loudly as danger is close, lives are at stake, and it up to us to sound the alarm! Keep your hands clean from the blood of others!