How We Are To Hear The Word
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 8/11/2013 PM |
Text: | Ezekiel 33:30-33 |
Psalters: | 349, 339, 252, 374 |
Applicatory to the Lord's Supper |
- Their determined appearance.
- A small remnant amongst the wastes of Judah maintained groundless hopes (24).
- In our text God tells Ezekiel about the exile Jews who were close to the prophet.
- It seems that their conduct was good: they faithfully listened to the word proclaimed/preached (30).
- They gathered with gravity and seeming devotion, identifying themselves as God?s people (31a)
- ?They hear thy words? listening with some attentiveness.
- And ?with their mouth they shew much love,? seemingly pleased and delighted with what they heard, praising the preacher.
- But Jehovah tells Ezekiel that they are false and hypocritical.
- N.B. that God identifies these people as ?the children of thy people,? not as the Lord?s.
- God tells Ezekiel that He hears them talk ?against thee? (30a).
- This talk they did in their homes (privately) and by the walls (community meeting places).
- And this talk they did ?still? (been long at it, so it was common and constant for them).
- Most importantly they are very careless in their hearing.
- For them the preaching is ?as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument? (32
- ?With their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness? (31c).
- They are not ?doers of the word? (James 1): ?They will not do them? (31b) and ?they do them not? (32b).
- The prophet concludes that this supposed interest would only last for a time.
- Sooner or later the spell of delusion would be broken (33).
- What are we to learn (especially as applicatory)?
- One, even as this occurred in the church of old, so it can occur today; we are not above it.
- Two, what is our purpose and intent in coming to church?
- Three, we really hear only when we are doers of the word.