REPENTANCE AS THE BEGINNING OF REFORM Entering into a new series of prophecies, he confirms his sensitive situation as a watchman, set by God to be honest to proclaim the word, the warnings, the commandments, and the promises of God; whether anyone will listen to him or not. And having felt, being responsible for them, that the spirit of despair has got into them, he started in this chapter to proclaim to them the ‘Gospel of hope,’ confirming that repentance is a possible way, and within our hands, to enjoy the divine reform in us. 1- The responsibility of the prophet as a watchman 1-9. 2- We should not despair, God is merciful 10--11. 3- God will not judge us for our past 12-20. 4- Comparing themselves to Abraham 21-29. 5- A return from the heart, and not just a formal return 30-33. 1- THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPHET AS A WATCHMAN Before talking about his responsibility, we wish to clarify that God’s words to him were as such: “Speak to the children of your people” (Ez 33:2); and not, ...’ of My people.’ He also says: “as My people” (Ez 33:31); namely, “as though My people.” As they have not yet enjoyed reconciliation with God, He does not call them “My people.” We saw this in our interpretation of the book of Exodus: When in a state of reconciliation with His people, God says, “My people; My Sabbath; My feasts; My incense; My offerings...,” referring the people, all its worships, feasts, and offerings, to Himself personally. While, in a state of displeasure with them, He says to His prophet, “Your people;” and to them He says: “Your feasts; Your Sabbaths; Your offerings etc.1” God started this set of prophecies and commandments, by an indirect admonition; saying to them: ‘I cannot call you My people any more... You are Ezekiel’s people;’ You are ‘as My people.’ Accept My commandment, and repent, then I would make you My people, and I become your God. Or as He says on the tongue of the prophet Ezekiel: “My tabernacle also shall be with them. Indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Ez 37:27). Ezekiel then spoke of his responsibility as a ‘watchman,’ who should be outspoken for the sake of the salvation of their souls, and his own salvation. As, if he stops proclaiming the message as a compliment to them, every soul that perishes would be required at his hand: “If the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand” (Ez 33:6). These words are still terrifying every Bishop, Priest, and minister. As, in case they are slothful to warn their congregation - whatever the circumstances or their rank are - their own souls would be required at their hands, instead of the souls that perish. We have previously presented examples for that2. The following are some commentaries by the Church Fathers, on the responsibility of watchmen, and their commitment to warn sinners and not to keep silent: .(7 : 1 للمؤلف: سفر الخروج، 1980 ، (خر 3 2 Cf. The interpretation of Ez. 3:15-21 in this book. 7 According to what came in the book of Ezekiel, watchmen should not keep silent before iniquity, as long as the sword is over their heads; their silence will not benefit them, nor will benefit the sinners. They should rather watch and warn; thus those whom they warn would benefit; if not both who warns and those warned1. St. Gregory of Nazianzus The first thing I should do for my people is to present them with a message, drawn from above, to consummate my job as a watchman (Is 21:6; 62:6; Hab 2:1). If I cannot manage to stop the coming of the sword, I would save my soul and those of my listeners, proclaiming the rebellion of my people; counting what is theirs as my own. By that, I can get some kind of comfort and compassion2. St. Gregory of Nazianzus What kind of blood that God requires at the hand of the watchman, but that which flows out of the sinner?! By that the idiot’s heart perish; as it is said: “Listen to me, you who have lost your hearts;” who poured the blood and lost the power of the living soul3. Origen The watchmen in the Church are appointed to condemn sin with no mercy4. St. Augustine If you are given the responsibility of providing the herd with pure clean water, and saw your herd drinking muddy water; Wouldn’t you do your best to rid the water of the mud?! But now, you are not responsible for a source of water, but for one of blood and Spirit. So if you see someone with a sin, which is far more dangerous than dirt and mud, and he came to you, wouldn’t you be sad?! Wouldn’t you try to stop him?! What would be your excuse?! God has given you this dignity for this reason, to discern these things; this is your job. Here would be your peace; and here would be your crown; not just to wear a shining white robe!5 St. John Chrysostom 2- WE SHOULD NOT DESPAIR; GOD IS MERCIFUL If the prophet is committed to be fully outspoken in proclaiming the divine commandment and the prophecies without any flattering, for the sake of the salvation of the souls of his herd, and also his own; yet that does not mean to be hard on them. If he had formerly spoken harshly, when the danger of captivity was imminent; yet now, having already been realized, and all have entered underneath its bitterness, there is no need for despair; But, he should rather start to proclaim God’s mercies and His love for mankind, even in the midst of His harsh chastisements. Therefore, you, O son of Adam, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say: If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?’ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel” (Ez 1 In Defence of His Flight to Pontus, 64. 2 On His Father's Silence. 3 Dial. with Heraclides, 164. 4 City of God 1:9. 5 In Mat. hom 82:6. 8 33:10, 11). They were formerly drinking transgression like water, lightly taking sin and its activity in their life; And when they started to fall under chastisement, they became overcome with despair; and said that they are definitely perishing; So how can they then live?! But God, who rebuked them bitterly before chastisement, is now dealing with them with compassion and love, to spare them from being destroyed through loss of hope. The Church Fathers comment on these divine words as such: Although through these divine words, the sinner would again have hope; Yet there is another trap that should be taken into consideration: That through that same hope, many people would sin more (through taking sin lightly)1. St. Augustine Let him love; as God “desires mercy more than sacrifice” (Hos 6:6); and let him fear, as He hates sin! Let him love; as God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that he repents and lives. And let him fear; as He hates the sinners who do not repent!2 Tertullian It is the mission of the Savior, to call the sinners to and not the righteous to repentance; as he Himself says: “Those who are well have no need of a physician” (Mat 9:12, 13). He desires the repentance of the sinner and not his death (Ez 33:11); and carries on His shoulders the poor lost sheep. When the prodigal son returned, his father joyfully received him3. St. Jerome 3- GODWILL NOT JUDGE US FOR OUR PAST Opening the door for hope, God wishes us to enter into it forcibly and with no fear. That is why He offers us every comfort. He does not judge us for our past, and not even for our present, in case we present now a true repentance. He does not desire our death, but seeks our salvation with every way, offering us every possibility to return to Him. Yet, at the same time, God takes care for His children who stand, lest they fall; and warns them against leaning on their past, and so becoming slothful. St. Jerome says: [In our life as Christians, we do not look back at the beginnings, but forward to the endings. Paul’s beginning was bad, but his ending was good. Judas’ beginning, on the other hand, was worthy of commendation, but his ending was miserable, because of his treason… The life of a Christian is the true ladder of Jacob, on which angels ascend and descend; while the Lord stands on its top stretching His hands to support us lest we slide; and puts his eyes on those who struggle to ascend the painful steps4.] We saw in our interpretation of chapter 18 how Origen used it to answer those who claim the diversity of the human natures; he confirms that it is possible for the wicked to repent, and for the righteous to fall. To some people who assume that man harbors either a good or a bad nature, that could not be changed, he says: [The soul of the 1 On Ps. 145:7. 2 Adv. Marc. 2:13. 3 Ep.11. 4 Ep. 54:6. 9 righteous could change, as testified by the prophet Ezekiel, who says that if the righteous disregards God’s commandments, his past righteousness would not be counted for him1.] If the righteous turns from his righteous life in the Lord, he would die; while the wicked, if he repents, he would find that a life in Christ would embrace him. “When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it” (Ez 33:18, 19). Let us then beware of sin lest we die. And in case we have died because of it, let us receive God our righteousness to live by Him. St. Ambrose says: [Whoever surrenders to wicked pleasures is dead; as “She who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” (1 Tim 5:6). Those who are nil in faith, go down into the pit while still living. Even though they may seem alive among us; yet they are actually in the pit. He who is a usurer or a thief, is not counted alive, as confirmed by Ezekiel. But if he keeps God’s commandments, to fulfill it, he lives, and lives by it (Ez 33:19)... Let us then hasten to that life; as whoever touches Life will live; as did that woman who touched the border of Jesus’ garment. She was healed and became free of death; to be told by Christ: “Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48; Mat 9:22). As, whoever touches the dead would be unclean, while he who touches the living would indeed be saved. Therefore, seek Him who is Alive; yet beware of seeking Him among the dead; lest you will be told: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5, 6).] 4- COMPARING THEMSELVES TO ABRAHAM It came to pass that a man escaped from Jerusalem as the city was struck, and came to where the prophet Ezekiel and the captivated people were, to inform them that Jerusalem has been captured. That was in the twelfth year of captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month. That is to say the news reached them six months after it happened. Then, Ezekiel’s mouth was opened, and he was no longer mute (Ez 33:22); as everyone realized the truth of the prophecies he proclaimed to it. The children of Israel have previously said to the prophet Ezekiel: “Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession” (Ez 33:24). How far are God’s measures from those of man; God looks into the heart, and gives abundantly to the pure heart, even if it is unique in the world; and does not give according to multitude. They assumed that God will neither forsake the city nor the temple, despite the abominations they did, as long as they offer Him sacrifices and offerings; while their hearts worship the idols, and are diverted to evil. God seeks the pure worship, and not the multitude of rites and formalities of worship! The obedient and believing Abraham was worthy of inheriting all that land; while no one among the tens of thousands of his descendants at that time was worthy to inherit it! The Church is in need for true saints, in whose hearts God would find comfort, even if they are only very few in number! That is why God’s words to the prophet Ezekiel came, to tell them that unless they become pure like their father Abraham, they would never be worthy of inheriting the land. That is repentance... It is the return to the hidden holy life! 5- A RETURN FROM THE HEART, AND NOT JUST AN 1 On Comm. Matt 13:30. 10 APPARENT RETURN As the news reached them, the multitude came to Ezekiel to hear him, having realized that he is speaking the truth. They probably also came to him eagerly and in great number, because, after he used to speak to them with words of rebuke and repentance, before the fall of Jerusalem, he started to talk about God’s revenge against the wicked people who rejoice for their affliction;(chapter 25- 32) and to give them hope for return and reform. And they probably also came to him to enjoy his superb way of speech. The prophet was not comfortable to see them coming to him, for the sake of temporary enjoyment of his thoughts, and not for true repentance; as God said to him: “So they come to you as people do; they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain” (Ez 33:31). His words were just like poetry that is offered with beautiful voice accompanied by sweet music; to which they listen for a certain time, and then go! God does not seek mere listening, but wishes for deeds... for true and practical repentance that comes from the heart! 11 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF E ZEKIEL 33 TAKE AWAY FROM ME THE SPIRIT OF FAILURE How amazing are You, O God, in Your plan for us! You allowed for the firm chastisement of the people, even for the Babylonian captivity! And threatened to destroy Jerusalem, the holy city, with its temple; And commanded Your prophet, as a watchman, to utter the truth, even though cruel! Then, despite all that, when the people have fallen into captivity, You try to take away their despair! You provoke them to true repentance filled with hope! Here I am in Your hands, O the Savior of my soul! Who could save me from feeling failure, but You?! In chastening me, hold tight my depths, to keep them from collapsing! Transfigure inside me, to keep my soul from being destroyed! Make me repent, and support me by the spirit of hope! You, O Lord God, care for the heart and not for the appearances! You seek a holy heart as that of Abraham; Rather than many, who mix the true with the vain! Sanctify us! Count us as the little remnant sanctified on Your account! Receive my heart, my mind, and my feelings! Receive my body and my behavior! I am in Your hands, I seek the work of Your Holy Spirit in me!
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