The Watchman and the Fall of Jerusalem – So far, the bulk of the book has accented God’s judgment on Israel (1-24) and on the heathen nations (25-32). In contrast, the rest of the book (33-48) will usually speak of God’s grace to the new Israel that will consist of regenerate believers endowed with the Spirit under a new David as their Shepherd, Prince, and King (e.g., 34:23-24; 36:25-37; 37:24-25; 39:29). In is unfortunate that selected portions of these chapters are often the only ones given much attention in the church, as though a full-bodied Gospel could be proclaimed without an in-depth attention to the Law. Ezek 33:1-9 is parallel to 3:16-21. Ezek 33:10-20 di ers minimally from 18:21-25. The dialectic of judgment and salvation, Law and Gospel, extends through the entire Scriptures. The key to understanding the watchmen oracles is the epochal report of 33:21-22: “the city has fallen!” It marks a major turn in the book and Ezekiel’s ministry and Israel’s history. The watchman’s responsibility is both Law and Gospel. We remember Jesus’ words: “What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mk 13:37). The fall of the city is parallel to Christ’s death on the cross, “It is nished!” Chapter 33 reads like an epilogue to the old ministry of doom but also holds out the very real possibility of repentance and a future under God (33:10-11). The Watchman’s Warning of Judgment (33:1-9) – “When I bring” not “if” emphasizes the seriousness of heeding the watchman’s warning. Also fatal is the negligent, unfaithful watchman. In either case, the hearer is also culpable for their own sins, even if they had not been warned early and often (Jer 25:4; Rom 3; 5:12-21). The call of chapter 3 is repeated here, impressing upon him the life or death gravity of the vocation, now in re ection after years of ministry. God’s Pleasure is for the Sinner to Repent and Live (33:10-11) – For the rst time in the entire book, the people admit that their guilt is the cause of their su ering, depicting themselves according to Yahweh’s predictions. The law has done its work (lex semper accusat), but a Gospel-less vacuum exists, which YWHW will ll in chapters 34-48 (See AC IV; Ap IV; SA III II 4-5; III III 1-8; Fc EP and SD V). He agrees with the people’s diagnosis, but contests the despair…