Context No. 3932 of 4322 · Ezekiel

Ezekiel 33:23-33: in context

23The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 24“Son of man, those who inhabit the waste places in the land of Israel speak, saying, ‘Abraham was one, and he inherited the land; but we are many. The land is given us for inheritance.’ 25Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “You eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. So should you possess the land? 26You stand on your sword, you work abomination, and every one of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. So should you possess the land?”’ 27“You shall tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “As I live, surely those who are in the waste places will fall by the sword. I will give whoever is in the open field to the animals to be devoured, and those who are in the strongholds and in the caves will die of the pestilence. 28I will make the land a desolation and an astonishment. The pride of her power will cease. The mountains of Israel will be desolate, so that no one will pass through. 29Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation and an astonishment because of all their abominations which they have committed.”’ 30“As for you, son of man, the children of your people talk about you by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak to one another, everyone to his brother, saying, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes out from the LORD.’ 31They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain. 32Behold, you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they don’t do them. 33“When this comes to pass—behold, it comes—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

God exposes two failures of his people. The first is presumption: those living in the ruined land claim the inheritance as Abraham's heirs, while continuing in idolatry, violence, and immorality; they presume on their heritage while ignoring how they live. But the second failure is even more searching, and it concerns how they treat God's word itself.

They come eagerly to hear the prophet, sitting before him as God's people, and they enjoy his message, for, God says, you are to them like one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; they hear your words, but they do not do them. Here is a subtle and dangerous spiritual failure: to treat God's word as entertainment. These people liked coming to hear; the prophet's words were pleasant to them, moving even, like a lovely song. But they had no intention of obeying; the hearing never became doing. It is possible to enjoy sermons, to be moved by Scripture, and yet never let it change how we live. God's word is not given to entertain us but to be done.

Do I treat God's word as something to enjoy and admire, or as a call to obey, letting what I hear actually change how I live rather than remaining a pleasant experience?

Sources

Ezekiel 33:31: "They hear your words, but don't do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain."
Ezekiel 33:32: "You are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they don't do them."
James 1:22: "But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves."