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.
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