“I have made you a watchman for Israel. If you hear a word from my mouth, you must warn them for me.” Ezekiel 33:7b

Ezekiel was called upon to be a watchman. He was to speak truth in the halls of power, keeping the nation of Israel, and its leaders, faithful to God . . . Rooting out wickedness, and demanding those in power repent of the evil they were doing.

Ezekiel’s was not as easy calling, or one that would make him popular with the palace crowd. For who in power ever wants to be called out for their wickedness, when flattery feels so much better? Or who wants to hear the truth, when material rewards of dishonesty are so great?

God’s call to Ezekiel was not simply to name the wickedness, but to save the wicked and the powerful from themselves. For God says, “I have no desire for the death of the wicked. I’d rather that the wicked just mend their ways and live. Give them up, give up your evil ways… why should you die?” Ezekiel 33:11

And Wickedness there was. God accuses Israel’s leaders of mistreating the most vulnerable, while they lived in luxury and self-indulgence.

“The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery; they have oppressed the poor and needy and have extorted from the alien without justice.” Ezekiel 22:29

The sheep of God pasture are exploited, instead of cared for. “You eat the fat; you clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatted calves, but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak; you have not healed the sick; you have not bound up the injured; you have not brought back the strays; you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them.” Ezekiel 34:3-4

Today, God still needs watch men and watch women, holding governments accountable, speaking truth to power. Calling out those who are silent in the face of suffering, sharing complicity in the face of injustice, unwilling to speak truth, where their voices would make a difference.

God calls both individuals and Nations to repent of their wrongdoing. To repent and turn to healthier life-giving directions. God’s desire has always been for the spiritual health, of each person and the Nations we are part of.

In the midst of this strange, foolish and particularly cruel administration, its essential that people of faith,  speak words of truth to power.  Reminding, especially, those who name themselves as Christians, for their own  soul’s sake, of the  Jesus of the gospels . . .Jesus  who told us whatever we do, for the least of God’s children, it is the same as doing it to him.

“I have no desire for the death of the wicked. I’d rather that the wicked just mend their ways and live. Give them up, give up your evil ways… why should you die?” Ezekiel 33:11