God again told Ezekiel that his mission to speak God’s words would be difficult. Ironically, God’s own people would be more resistant to God’s words than the foreigners (6-7). But God would make Ezekiel spiritually tough enough to take on his task, making his forehead hard like flint (9). It means he would not be daunted by opposition.

At first, God did not have Ezekiel say anything. He just had him live among the exiles and become deeply distressed as he saw his people’s sin (15). Then Ezekiel could better understand the mission God was giving him, which is to be a watchman for Israel (17). A spiritual watchman keeps a lookout for sin, to warn God’s people about the temptation of sin that can creep stealthily into their lives. God made Ezekiel personally responsible for warning his people when he saw them falling into sin (20-21).

Through prayerfully living among his people, Ezekiel could deeply understand their sin problems. As shepherds, we are also called to understand the sin traps that people today are falling into and warn them so they may be saved.
Application: Father, thank you for toughening me up for your mission. Make me a watchman for this generation with spiritual insight.
One Word: A watchman who warns about sin