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Watchman in EzekielDani Treweek (NT3)

SUMMARY

The relationship between Luke-Acts has long been the subject of muchdiscussion. Whilst many scholars have scrutinised the stylistic and linguisticsimilarities and differences between the two volumes (often preferring toseparate the two books) little attention has been payed to their narrative unityand sitz im leben. It is examining the formal features of both, as well as thethematic and narrative links, that it becomes clear that the author originallywrote both of these volumes as one united work which was later split into thegospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Reading them as one work (ie. As Luke-Acts) has implications for how we understand the Lukan purpose, structureand theology.

And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me:Son of man, I havemade you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth,you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, You shall surely die, and yougive him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to savehis life, that wicked person shall die for* his iniquity, but his blood I will require at yourhand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from hiswicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Again, if arighteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay astumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall diefor his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but hisblood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and hedoes not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered

your soul. (Ezekiel 3:16-21 ESV)

Problems with Watchman of Chp 3

- Relationship between the watchman passage and the contexto Stands outside his commissioning which ends at 3:15

Second commissioning? When?

Second stage in his commissioning?

- The individual focus rather than a national (corporate) focus & suggestion of

evading judgement if proper response madeo Marked contrast from before where Ezks ministry has

National focus

Irrevocable judgement

- Ezekiels divinely imposed dumbnesso Strange that he is made watchman, told to wanr people and then

told to close himself up and is made dumb!

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Ezek. 3:16 And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORDcame to me:

Means that we either have to disregard this specific mentionor not relegate watchman till later in his ministry

3rd possibility Part of initial call but highlights particular ministry that

does not become promiment till after fall of Jerusalem?

Ezekiel the Watchman

Metaphor not original to Ezekiel

o Hosea (8th Century) watchman for my God over Ephraim (Hos

9:8)

o Jeremiah (6th Century) I raised up a watchman for you (Jer 6:17)

Function is to warn Israelites

o But only when he hears a word from Yahwehs mouth

Arrival of God is the danger about which people need to bewarned

So the attacking foe is also the friend who wants hisenemies to escape!

Watchman will address individuals pastoral role giving individual

attention to those under his careo Distinctive in Ezekiel: comes our particularly in Ch 33ff

Fall of Jerusalem does not signal end of his ministry

But the beginning of a new and important stage of it

o Prophets have characteristically addressedking as head and representative of whole nation

Nation as a wholeo Now Ezk called to address individuals in a pastoral sense

Jerusalem has fallen, nation is decimated

Must now warn and admonish individuals