Ezekiel

AMK LEADERSHIP STUDIES

Ezekiel

Commentary:

Ezekiel was one of many prophets who were contemporary with Jeremiah. The book of Ezekiel contains numerous visions and prophecies, many of which pertain to the latter days. Ezekiel prophesied with particular insight about leadership.

Reference:

And the word of the Lord came unto Ezekiel saying, "7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

"8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

"9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." (KJV Ezekiel 33:7-9)

Commentary:

An important part of the leader's responsibility is to inform, admonish, and counsel others. If people fail because the leader does not fulfill this responsibility, the leader is accountable. Leaders who fulfill this responsibility are not accountable for the actions of those who do not heed their advice and warning.

Reference:

"20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." (KJV Ezekiel 18:20)

"10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

"11 Say into them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O House of Israel?

"12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

"13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

"14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

"15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

"16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live." (KJV Ezekiel 33:10-16)

"28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

"29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

"30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

"31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

"32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. (KJV Ezekiel 18:28-32)

Commentary:

Righteous leaders derive no pleasure from suffering, not even the suffering of the guilty. When those who have transgressed become good, their wrongs are not to be remembered or discussed. When those who have been good turn bad, their former goodness will not save them.

Reference:

"1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying. 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

"3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

"4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. . .

"9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; 10 Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them . . . 19 And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.

"20 Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; Behold, I even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.

"21 Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;

"22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey. . . 27. . . and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them." (KJV Ezekiel 34:1-4, 9-10, 19-22, 27)

Commentary:

The Lord is opposed to leaders who gratify their own selfish desires while disregarding the needs of the people. A leader is supposed to nourish and strengthen and heal and unite. But some leaders don't do any of these things. They just push people around, and pollute, and take what they want. The Lord will deliver his people from the grasp of self serving leaders and unite them once again under the leadership of his true servants.