20250722 [새벽묵상] 파수꾼 에스겔과 반역하는 족속 | Ezekiel the Watchman and the Rebellious House (겔/Ezk 3:16~27)

3:16 칠 일 후에 여호와의 말씀이 내게 임하여 이르시되

3:17 인자야 내가 너를 이스라엘 족속의 파수꾼으로 세웠으니 너는 내 입의 말을 듣고 나를 대신하여 그들을 깨우치라

3:18 가령 내가 악인에게 말하기를 너는 꼭 죽으리라 할 때에 네가 깨우치지 아니하거나 말로 악인에게 일러서 그의 악한 길을 떠나 생명을 구원하게 하지 아니 하면 그 악인은 그의 죄악 중에서 죽으려니와 내가 그의 피 값을 네 손에서 찾을 것이고

3:19 네가 악인을 깨우치되 그가 그의 악한 마음과 악한 행위에서 돌이키지 아니하면 그는 그의 죄악 중에서 죽으려니와 너는 네 생명을 보존하리라

Ezekiel’s Task as Watchman

16 At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.

3:20 또 의인이 그의 공의에서 돌이켜 악을 행할 때에는 이미 행한 그의 공의는 기억할 바 아니라 내가 그 앞에 거치는 것을 두면 그가 죽을지니 이는 네가 그를 깨우치지 않음이니라 그는 그의 죄 중에서 죽으려니와 그의 피 값은 내가 네 손에서 찾으리라

3:21 그러나 네가 그 의인을 깨우쳐 범죄하지 아니하게 함으로 그가 범죄하지 아니하면 정녕 살리니 이는 깨우침을 받음이며 너도 네 영혼을 보존하리라

20 “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

3:22 여호와께서 권능으로 거기서 내게 임하시고 또 내게 이르시되 일어나 들로 나아가라 내가 거기서 너와 말하리라 하시기로

3:23 내가 일어나 들로 나아가니 여호와의 영광이 거기에 머물렀는데 내가 전에 그발 강 가에서 보던 영광과 같은지라 내가 곧 엎드리니

22 The hand of the Lord was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.” 23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.

3:24 주의 영이 내게 임하사 나를 일으켜 내 발로 세우시고 내게 말씀하여 이르시되 너는 가서 네 집에 들어가 문을 닫으라

3:25 너 인자야 보라 무리가 네 위에 줄을 놓아 너를 동여매리니 네가 그들 가운데에서 나오지 못할 것이라

3:26 내가 네 혀를 네 입천장에 붙게 하여 네가 말 못하는 자가 되어 그들을 꾸짖는 자가 되지 못하게 하리니 그들은 패역한 족속임이니라

3:27 그러나 내가 너와 말할 때에 네 입을 열리니 너는 그들에게 이르기를 주 여호와의 말씀이 이러하시다 하라 들을 자는 들을 것이요 듣기 싫은 자는 듣지 아니하리니 그들은 반역하는 족속임이니라

24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people. 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.

                에스겔은 그발 강 가에서 하늘이 열리며 보좌 위에 앉아 계신 하나님의 모습을 보게 되었습니다. 하나님의 영광을 목도하게된 에스겔은 그저 엎드려 그 음성을 듣는 것 밖에는 할 수 있는 것이 없었습니다. 그러자 하나님께서 직접 당신의 음성으로 에스겔을 부르시고 하나님의 영을 그에게 임하게 하셔서 그를 일으켜 세우시지요. 그리고는 당신의 음성으로 그를 당신을 반역하는 백성에게 선지자로 보내심을 선포하십니다. 너무나 갑작스럽고 강권적인 하나님의 부르심에 에스겔은 두려워 떨며 칠일동안 어찌할 바를 모르고 지내게 됩니다. 그리고 오늘의 말씀입니다. 그 혼란스러웠던 칠일의 시간이 지난 후에 하나님의 말씀이 에스겔에게 다시 임하십니다. 그리고 이번에는 그를 이스라엘 족속의 파수꾼으로 세우신다고 말씀하십니다. 당신을 대신하여 그들을 깨우치라 말씀하십니다. 오늘의 본문은 파수꾼으로 세워진 에스겔의 임무와 책임에 대한 말씀입니다. 그런데 분명히 앞에서는 나를 대신하여 그들을 깨우치라고 말씀하셔 놓고는 정작 그를 집안에 가두어 놓으시고 말을 하지 못하게 하십니다. 그리고 그 이유를 이렇게 말씀하셨습니다. “그들은 반역하는 족속임이니라.” 오늘은 파수꾼 에스겔과 반역하는 족속이라는 제목으로 말씀을 함께 나누기 원합니다.

Ezekiel, by the Chebar Canal, witnessed the heavens open and saw the glorious vision of God seated on His throne. Overwhelmed by the splendor of God's glory, all he could do was prostrate himself and listen to God's voice. Then, God directly called Ezekiel by name, His Spirit entered him, and lifted him to his feet. God's voice then declared that He was sending Ezekiel as a prophet to a rebellious people. This sudden, overwhelming call left Ezekiel trembling with fear, bewildered for seven days. And that brings us to today's passage.

After those seven days of confusion, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel again. This time, God appointed him as a watchman for the house of Israel. God commanded him to warn them on His behalf. Today's text speaks about the duty and responsibility of Ezekiel, the watchman. But here's the perplexing part: after clearly stating, "You are to warn them on My behalf," God then confines Ezekiel to his house and silences him. The reason given? "For they are a rebellious house." Today, I want us to reflect on this passage under the title, "Ezekiel the Watchman and the Rebellious House."

                먼저 파수꾼 에스겔에 대해서 이야기해보겠습니다. 본문 16-17절은 서론에서 말씀드렸듯이 하나님께서 에스겔에게 다시 임하셔서 그를 이스라엘 족속의 파수꾼으로 세우시는 장면입니다. 파수꾼으로서의 그의 임무는 하나님의 입의 말을 듣고 하나님을 대신하여 이스라엘 족속들을 깨우치는 것이었습니다. 하나님께서는 그의 임무와 책임을 네가지 상황을 가정하여 예를 드시며 자세히 설명하십니다. 첫번째는 18절의 말씀처럼 하나님께서 악인에게 “너는 꼭 죽으리라”고 말씀하실 때에 파수꾼이 악인에게 그 말씀을 깨우치지 않는 경우입니다. 그렇게 되면 악인은 그의 죄악 중에서 죽을 것인데 하나님께서는 그의 피 값을 파수꾼의 손에서 찾을 것이다 라고 말씀하십니다. 이 말씀은 가만히 생각하면 좀 이상합니다. 악인이라고 한다면 경고를 듣던지 듣지 않던지 상관없이 악한 길에서 떠나지 않을 것입니다. 그렇지 않습니까? 사실 그 예가 두번째 예인 19절에 잘 나와있지요. 파수꾼이 악인을 깨우치더라도 그가 돌이키지 아니하면 그는 그의 죄악 중에 죽으려니와 너는 네 생명을 보존하리라. 이것이 상식적인 당연한 상황이지요. 그런데 하나님께서는 첫번째 예로 악인이라 할지라도 파수꾼이 그를 깨우쳐야한다고 말씀하십니다. 그렇지 않으면 악인이 자신의 죄악 중에 죽는 것이 파수꾼의 책임이라는 것입니다. 이것은 무엇을 말하는 것입니까? 하나님께서는 악인에게도 그의 악한 길을 떠날 수 있는 기회를 주신다는 것입니다. 그리고 또 한가지는 비록 악인이라 할지라도 자신의 죄악에 대해 파수꾼의 깨우침을 받으면 그의 악한 길을 떠나 생명을 구원하게 될 수도 있다는 것입니다. 이는 파수꾼이 하나님을 대언하는 일이 누군가에게는 그 말씀 하나로 생사가 달린 그런 중대한 일임을 말씀하고 계시는 것입니다.

The Watchman Ezekiel

First, let's talk about Ezekiel the watchman. Verses 16-17, as I mentioned in the introduction, describe God re-engaging with Ezekiel and appointing him as a watchman for the house of Israel. His duty as a watchman was to hear the word from God's mouth and, on God's behalf, warn the people of Israel. God meticulously explained his duty and responsibility by giving four hypothetical situations.

The first example, in verse 18, describes a situation where God tells a wicked person, "You shall surely die," but the watchman fails to warn that wicked person. In such a case, the wicked person will die in their sin, but God declares that He will require their blood from the watchman's hand. This may sound a bit strange if you think about it. If someone is wicked, they might not turn from their wicked way regardless of whether they receive a warning, right? In fact, the second example in verse 19 illustrates this perfectly: if the watchman warns the wicked, and they do not turn from their way, they will die in their sin, but the watchman will have saved his life. This is what we would consider the logical outcome.

However, God's first example emphasizes that even if someone is wicked, the watchman must warn them. Otherwise, the watchman is responsible for the wicked person's death in their sin. What does this tell us? It means God provides an opportunity even for the wicked to turn from their evil ways. Furthermore, it implies that even a wicked person, upon receiving the watchman's warning, might indeed turn from their wicked path and save their life. This clearly illustrates that the watchman's role in delivering God's message is a matter of life and death, an extremely weighty task.

세번째와 네번째의 예도 보겠습니다. 이번에는 의인에 대한 말씀입니다. 의인이라면 당연히 파수꾼의 깨우침은 필요하지 않을 것입니다. 그리고 의인이라면 악인과 다르게 깨우침을 받을 때에 범죄 하지 않을 것입니다. 그렇게 깨우침을 받은 의인도 살고 파수꾼도 영혼을 보존하게 되는 것이 바로 네번째 예인 21절의 말씀이지요. 그런데 세번째 예인 20절의 말씀은 조금 다릅니다. 한 번 다같이 읽어보겠습니다. “또 의인이 그의 공의에서 돌이켜 악을 행할 때에는 이미 행한 그의 공의는 기억할 바 아니라 내가 그 앞에 거치는 것을 두면 그가 죽을지니 이는 네가 그를 깨우치지 않음이니라 그는 그의 죄 중에서 죽으려니와 그의 피 값은 내가 네 손에서 찾으리라” 의인도 그의 공의에서 돌이켜 악을 행할 수 있다고 하십니다. 그리고 의인이라고 해서 그 결과인 죽음을 피할 수 없다고 하십니다. “이미 행한 그의 공의는 기억할 바 아니라”고 말씀하시지 않습니까? 의인이라 할지라도 파수꾼이 그를 깨우치지 아니하면 그는 죽음에 이를 수 있고 그 때에는 하나님께서 그의 피 값을 파수꾼의 손에서 찾겠다고 하십니다. 막대한 책임입니다. 이 네가지 상황을 예를 들어 하나님께서 에스겔에게 말씀하고자 하시는 것이 무엇입니까? 너는 파수꾼으로서 그들이 악인이든 의인이든 상관없이 어떤 상황에서도 그들을 깨우쳐야 한다는 말씀입니다. 그것이 파수꾼에게 맡겨진 임무이며 책임인 것입니다. 자 그런데 이렇게 파수꾼의 임무와 책임을 일일이 설명하시고 난 뒤에 하나님께서는 그에게 다시 임하셔서 그를 자택에 가둬 놓으시고 아무 말도 못하게 하십니다.

Let's look at the third and fourth examples, which concern the righteous. One might think a righteous person wouldn't need the watchman's warning. And unlike the wicked, a righteous person would likely not commit sin if warned. Indeed, the fourth example in verse 21 states that if the watchman warns a righteous person, and they heed the warning, both the righteous person will live, and the watchman will preserve his soul. This is a positive outcome.

But the third example, in verse 20, is a little different. Let's read it together: "Again, when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand."

This passage tells us that even a righteous person can turn from their righteousness and commit sin. And even a righteous person cannot escape the consequence of death in such a case. Doesn't it say, "his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered"? Even if someone is righteous, if the watchman fails to warn them, they can face death, and God will require their blood from the watchman's hand. This is an immense responsibility.

What is God trying to communicate to Ezekiel through these four examples? It's that as a watchman, he must warn them, regardless of whether they are wicked or righteous, and in every situation. This is the duty and responsibility entrusted to the watchman.

Now, after meticulously explaining the watchman's duties and responsibilities, God comes to Ezekiel again, confines him to his house, and makes him unable to speak.

24-25절입니다. “너는 가서 네 집에 들어가 문을 닫으라” “무리가 너를 동여매리니 나오지 못할 것이라” 파수꾼으로서 어떤 상황에서든지 누구에게든지 하나님의 말씀을 대언하라고 하신 분이 하나님이시지 않습니까? 그런데 지금 자기 집에 갇혀서 나오지 못하게 된다면 어떻게 파수꾼의 역할을 하라는 말씀입니까? 거기에 한 술 더 뜨십니다. 26절에 보니 아예 입을 막아버리십니다. “내가 네 혀를 네 입천장에 붙게 하여 네가 말 못하는 자가 되어 그들을 꾸짖는 자가 되지 못하게 하리니” 파수꾼으로 불러놓고 가택연금을 시키시고 심지어 그 집 안에서도 입을 봉해버리시다니 이는 대체 왜 그런 것입니까? 하나님께서는 그 이유를 이렇게 설명하십니다. “그들은 패역한, 반역하는 족속임이니라.” 앞에서 우리는 악인일지라도 악한 길을 떠나 생명을 얻을 수 있도록 네가 깨우쳐라 라고 명령하셨던 것을 기억하실 것입니다. 그러나 이들 반역하는 족속에게는 꾸짖음을 허락하지 아니하십니다. 그들을 깨우칠 때에 그들이 반역의 길을 떠나서 생명을 얻을 수 있기 때문입니다. 그러므로 하나님께서 에스겔을 감금하시고 침묵하게 하심은 그들이 하나님의 심판을 결코 피할 수 없음을 역설적으로 말씀하고 계시는 것입니다. 그러나 하나님께서 그의 입을 영원히 막지는 않으십니다. 입을 다시 열게 하시는 때가 있습니다. 그 때는 바로 하나님께서 말씀하시는 때입니다. 27절을 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “그러나 내가 너와 말할 때에 네 입을 열리니 너는 그들에게 이르기를 주 여호와의 말씀이 이러하시다 하라 들을 자는 들을 것이요 듣기 싫은 자는 듣지 아니하리니 그들은 반역하는 족속임이니라” 하나님이 말씀하시는 바로 그 때에 파수꾼은 말씀을 전해야 합니다. 그 말씀은 앞에서 이야기 하였듯이 하나님의 심판의 말씀일 것입니다. 삶과 죽음에 대한 말씀일 것입니다. 그러나 그들은 반역하는 족속이기에 듣기 싫은 자는 그 때에도 듣지 아니할 것입니다.

Look at verses 24-25: "Go, shut yourself inside your house." And, "They will bind you with ropes so that you cannot go out among them." The very one who commanded him to speak God's word to anyone, in any situation, is now confining him to his house, preventing him from going out. How can he fulfill his role as a watchman then? And it gets even more perplexing in verse 26: God even silences him completely. "And I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to rebuke them."

Why would God call him to be a watchman, then place him under house arrest, and even seal his lips within his own home? God explains the reason: "For they are a rebellious house." We recall that earlier, God commanded the watchman to warn even the wicked so they might turn from their evil ways and gain life. However, for this rebellious house, God does not allow direct rebuke. It's because warning them might lead them to abandon their rebellion and receive life. Therefore, God's act of confining Ezekiel and making him silent paradoxically emphasizes that they can by no means escape God's judgment.

However, God does not permanently silence Ezekiel. There will be a time when God opens his mouth again. That time is when God speaks. Let's read verse 27 together: "But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' Let him who hears, hear; and let him who refuses to hear, refuse; for they are a rebellious house."

At the very moment God speaks, the watchman must deliver the message. This message, as we discussed, will likely be one of God's judgment. It will be a message of life and death. But because they are a rebellious house, those who refuse to hear will still refuse to hear, even then.

말씀을 맺습니다. 하나님께서 파수꾼으로 부르신 에스겔은 하나님께서 말씀하실 때에 그 말씀을 반드시 전해야 합니다. 그러나 하나님께서 말씀하시는 것은 그 때가 있습니다. 이는 역으로 말하면 우리가 하나님으로부터 깨우치는 말씀을 들을 때는 우리에게 아직 기회가 있다는 것입니다. 의인이라 할지라도 심지어 악인이라 할지라도 그 말씀을 듣고 받아들이면 아직 돌이킬 수 있습니다. 그러나 파수꾼이 우리에게 아무런 말도 하고 있지 않다면 그 때야 말로 우리는 우리가 반역하는 족속이 된 것은 아닌지 돌아봐야 할 것입니다. 우리에게 경고의 말씀을 주시는 것이 곧 은혜입니다. 말씀을 읽음으로, 설교를 들음으로, 또 찬양과 기도로 파수꾼의 음성을 듣고 깨우침을 받아 생명을 보존하시는 여러분 되시기를 축원합니다.

Conclusion

To conclude, Ezekiel, called by God to be a watchman, must deliver God's message when God speaks. However, there is a specific time for God to speak. Conversely, this means that when we hear a warning message from God, we still have an opportunity. Even the righteous, and certainly the wicked, can still turn if they hear and accept that word.

But if the watchman is silent, if we are hearing no warning, then that might be the time for us to examine ourselves and consider if we have become a rebellious house. Receiving a word of warning from God is, in itself, a grace.

I pray that by reading the Word, listening to sermons, and through worship and prayer, you will hear the watchman's voice, be warned, and preserve your lives. Amen.