How We Are To Hear The Word

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