Sound The Trumpet

Eze 33:1-11 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: (3) If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; (4) Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. (5) He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. (6) But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. (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. (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 unto 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?

We see the Lord speaking of the duty of the watchman.  How the watchman is to sound a warning when he sees the enemy approaching.  The Lord also explains that the people should hear the warning and respond.  If the people hear the warning and do not respond, their blood is on their own hands.  However, if the watchman sees the approach of the enemy and does not sound the warning the people will be taken and the blood of the people will be on the watchman’s hands.  It is a simple and clear truth.  In the conclusion of this passage, the Lord then compares the preacher or prophet to the watchman.  As preachers, we are called of God to sound the warning when we see the enemy approach.  In our case, the enemy is not necessarily a neighboring country.  In our case, the enemy is the devil.  As preachers, we are to see the dangers and attacks the enemy is sending at us and warn the people.
With that in mind, the quest to name this blog has come to an end (I think).  So, we will name the blog “Sound the Trumpet” with the idea of fulfilling the commission in Ezekiel 33.
Are you a preacher?  If so, will the blood of the people be on your hands?  I think we could make a broader application of this passage.  Are you a parent?  If so, you are responsible for sounding the warning in your home.  Do you? Would you want the blood of your children on your hands?