Ezekiel 33:7-11 (NRSV)
Read Ezekiel 33:7-11 on biblegateway.com
Verse 7So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. Verse 8If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. Verse 9But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
Verse 10Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?" Verse 11Say 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 their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Devotion
On Labor Day, we recognize workers' contributions. We also can consider Martin Luther’s Doctrine of Vocation, including our calls into relationships through which we seek our neighbors' good. Luther's teaching about vocations communicated hopeful purpose for his neighbors' lives as they transitioned from feudalism's farms to capitalism's markets.
In today's reading, Ezekiel responds to Israel's transition. God had called Ezekiel to warn the Israelites to turn from their sinful ways. They did not. Then, exiled from their land, they despaired. God responded by giving Ezekiel a hopeful message for Israel.
That hopeful message continues today—God takes no pleasure in punishment; God desires reconciliation and life. This was one of Luther's favorite verses. God called Ezekiel and Luther to spokesperson vocations. They communicated both grim warnings and joyous hope. This week's readings examine our vocational calls to communicate with our neighbors both messages of difficult admonition and of loving reconciliation.
Prayer
Reconciling God, thank you for your gift of vocations through which we seek our neighbors’ good. Forgive us when we fail to communicate challenging words of advocacy for our neighbors who are unemployed, poorly paid, treated unjustly in jobs, or work in unsafe surroundings. Please give us courage for speaking warnings, and enthusiasm for voicing hope. Amen.