July 14, 2022 – Thursday
Ezekiel 33:30-32 NIV
30 “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’
31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
Comments
In the verses above God is speaking to Ezekiel about the people who will soon be listening to his message from God. Prior to this, He explained to Ezekiel in verses 21-29 why Jerusalem had fallen and why those who remained there in the ruins hoping to maintain possession of the land will die by the sword or be devoured by wild animals. Ezekiel and many others were taken to Babylon five years earlier after the successful Babylonian attack on Jerusalem. Ezekiel became the exiled Israelites priest and prophet. He pulled no punches as in the verses above attest to, but he also communicated God’s message of hope for the future of Israel, the nations, and all of creation.
I have often used the above verses to close a message and ask those in attendance if they are going to put God’s words into practice once they leave the four walls of the church. To me they seem to fit with the verses we discussed yesterday, 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, 1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. In Ezekiel’s time, Israel had thrown away their covenant with God, worshipping other gods and idols.
You would think that with the defeat by Babylon and their exile, they would be looking to follow God once again to gain His favor. But instead, as God tells Ezekiel, 30 “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. They hear Ezekiel’s words from God, but they do not put them into practice. God repeats this a second time saying they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
Whether it is Paul warning us not to receive God’s grace in vain or Ezekiel repeating God’s words, they hear your words but do not put them into practice, the message is the same. You are playing with fire when you ignore God and pursue your own desires, the fire of Hell.
I’m thinking of opening some of my messages with God’s words to Ezekiel and then concluding with Paul’s warning. This would make them bookends of and for the message and put the question to them about putting His words into practice.
Bottom Line: Let us seize God’s offer of salvation through His Son and make it a point to put His words into practice as we walk through our lives day by day.
Prayer: Almighty God, Heavenly Father, Thank You for letting us know in both the Old Testament and the New Testament how important it is to put Your words into practice. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek