Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ezekiel 33:1-4

"And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and set him for their watchman; if, when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 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." — Ezekiel 33:1-4 (ASV)

In that case, the watchman is quite clear. He has done his duty: he has sounded an alarm, a fitting alarm, upon the trumpet, and has sounded it immediately, without loitering or delaying. He has not been afraid of giving uneasiness to men; he has done his duty, fearless of remark, and he is clear. Happy also is he in knowing that, by heeding the trumpet's warning blast, many have escaped the threatened danger. Still, even then it seems that there are some who hear the trumpet and will not take the warning.

That is the sad part of our service; it makes the most successful ministry to be fringed with black. It cannot be all joy for him who wins the most souls for God; for at times he can sympathize with his brethren, the prophets, in their sorrowful inquiry, "Who has believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" Listen to this, you who hear the gospel and yet do not repent; if you do not heed the warning, your blood will be upon your own head.