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Ezekiel was commanded of the Lord to have the children of his people prepare a watchman whose duty was to watch for the impending sword of an invading country. The interesting point here is that the sword was that which the Lord sent against that land. Yet, if the watchman blew the trumpet as a warning that the enemy was about to attack and the people responded, they would in that manner deliver their own soul. Eze. 33:1-5 When they failed to heed the warning, the responsibility for the shedding of their blood rested upon each unresponsive individual. Here, before us is one of the many times when the soul is identified with the blood. Verse 4 it is blood, verse 5 it is soul. The life giving force of the blood, the work horse of the body, is the soul of mankind. Lev. 17:11 In a Messianic statement made by Isaiah, he referred to Jesus pouring out His soul unto death. Liquids are poured. Isa. 53:12 In the Messianic Psalm the thought of being poured out is used pertaining to the crucifixion of Christ. Ps. 22:14 Soul and spirit are not one and the same. Even though the scripture uses them interchangeably there is a definite, discernable difference between them. The soul is the life of the natural man and dies because of sin. Eze. 18:28 The spirit is the eternal part of man.
Full accountability rests on the watchman. Failure to give warning would cause him to be held responsible for all who would die in their iniquity and whose blood was shed. Eze. 33:6 Then the Lord spoke to Ezekiel and confirmed him to be the watchman of the house of Israel. He was commissioned to take the Word of the Lord to them as a warning from the Lord. What would Sundays message be like if those who stand in the pulpits of the world would hear from the Lord His word of warning. He was not instructed to speak harsh or mean and cutting words but to declare truth. The truth of the Lord. Ezekielís words were to be directed at the wicked in the house of Israel. In declaring a message against sin he delivered himself from the responsibility of the eternal destiny of the sinner in Zion. If he did not present a clear trumpet sound but compromised, he then was made accountable for those who died in their sin. Eze. 33:8 Contrariwise, when having warned the ungodly and they do not respond, all responsibility for their dying in their sin was removed. Eze. 33:9 Rest assured that there will arise a ministry in these last days which will speak straight to the hearts of the people. It will cause many to leave the easy going, casual church of today for we are told that there would arise a generation having itching ears who would gather in abundance the type of teacher that they know will not make them feel uncomfortable. 2 Tim. 4:3-4.