“Why don’t you get the message?

(Ezekiel 33:30-33)

Ezekiel lived in the world of the refugee camp. His own people, God’s chosen people, had pushed
God too far in their unfaithful, rebellious ways. They were called to bring the knowledge of the
true God to the nations. Instead, they became worse than the nations. They chased after other
gods in spite of the truth they possessed. So Israel’s covenant Lord finally let them feel the full
weight of punishment for their sins. The curses for covenant unfaithfulness had finally overtaken
them (Deuteronomy 28).They became exiles in a strange place, under the power of a foreign king.
It seemed that the Lord had turned against his people, his land, his promises, his holy hill of Zion.
But he raised up his prophet to tell them that he was dealing with them for the purpose of turning
them back to himself. He would yet return them to their land and meet them there to fulfill his
promise to bless the world through them.

Ezekiel the priest was taken to Babylon with many other people of influence about twelve years
before the final collapse and destruction of Jerusalem. In the fifth year of his captivity the Lord
began to speak to him and he in turn began to preach to his fellow captives encamped by the
Kebar River. His testimony was as plain as it was powerful: “The heavens were opened and I saw
visions of God.” The spectacular display of the glory of the Lord became the driving force in his
life and ministry. Furthermore, “the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel” and “the hand of the Lord
was upon him” (Ezekiel 1:1-3). He was conducted by the power of the Spirit of God to “the exiles
who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River” to deliver the word of the Lord. They were a
rebellious people, but also a religious people. It was this combination of rebellion with religion
that made Ezekiel’s task an apparently impossible one. They came to him, sat before him, and
listened to his words, but they did not get the message from the Lord. In our text, the news had
finally arrived that Jerusalem had fallen. But they still did not get the message. What John wrote
about all mankind could be applied to them: they “still did not repent of the work of their hands”
(Revelation 9:20). We will discover here God’s perspective on why that was so.

They did not have spiritual interests.

The great issues of God and the soul were not of much importance to them. They were not
focused on matters of eternal consequence. How do we know this?

In the first place, they were interested in the messenger more than the message. They had the
wrong focus. The man was interesting, but the message was not. They were talking about him “by
the walls and at the doors of the houses.” The KJV says that they were talking “against” him.
Whether it was “about” him or “against” him, whether it was positive or negative, was not the
issue. It amounts to the same thing, because either way it showed where their attention was
focused. At the same time it was disrespectful of the messenger, because he knew that he was
nothing and his message was everything. As they talked about him so casually and carelessly,
they proved that they did not take him seriously because they did not take his message seriously.
They made him a subject of their social conversation and discussion as they met to talk and visit
with one another. He was of interest to them only insofar as they liked or disliked him personally.
His message was of little or no interest at all.

But this was nothing new. Jeremiah complained bitterly about a similar response to his ministry
(Jeremiah 20:7-10). In fact, the word of the Lord through Jeremiah was this:
“From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again, I sent you
my servants the prophets. But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked
and did more evil than their forefathers” (Jeremiah 7:25,26).

The Lord remembered that they had grumbled and complained against Moses as early as the
crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:11). They did so again at Marah (Exodus 15:24), and on
numerous occasions after that. King Ahab called Elijah a “troubler of Israel” (I Kings 18:17). He
said about Micaiah, “I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always
bad” (I Kings 22:8). Elisha was ridiculed by the young people and two bears killed 42 of them (II
Kings 23-25). In days to come Zechariah would begin his ministry with a warning about
repeating this pattern in the return from exile (Zechariah 1:1-6). So their treatment of Ezekiel was
not at all unsual. But it was the wrong treatment and wrong focus. They had no serious interest in
spiritual things.

In the second place they were interested in the messenger more than the God who sent him.
They failed to realize that he was sent by God. They could not have been ignorant of Ezekiel’s
calling. It was written all over him. His life exhibited the power of God both in what he said and
in what he did.

For example, it was the Lord God who called him “son of man.” He was called by this title over
90 times. Why was Ezekiel a “son of man?” For Ezekiel, it reminded him that he was only a man.
But his message was from God. He was only a “son of man,” but he was sent to speak for the
God whose glory he saw and described in chapter one. If he was a “son of man” he could never
glorify himself. He could never take credit for his message nor could he accept blame for it if it
was unwelcome by his hearers. He was sent by God to speak for God (2:1-7a). The success or
failure of his message did not depend on him. He was sent to faithfully deliver God’s word.

Daniel saw “one like a son of man” who would establish the kingdom of God (Daniel 7:13,14).
He was “one like a son of man” in contrast to the terrible beasts that symbolize the kingdoms of
this world. Man becomes a beast when he builds a kingdom without God. But in the kingdom of
God, man realizes his true humanity because of Jesus, the perfect man. In the gospels, Jesus
freely applied this title to himself. He was the Son of Man in that he appeared to be as ordinarily
human as Ezekiel. Yet he was also the Son of Man who fulfilled Daniel’s vision of the kingdom
of God. In his case, he did not have to be spoken to and ordered around to know what to say and
do. He was of one mind with the Father. He spoke and acted on his own authority.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many” (Mark 10:45).
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in
heavenly glory” (Matthew 25:31).

Additionally, it was the Lord God who made Ezekiel a “watchman.” Ezekiel gave a detailed
acount of this in verses 1-7 of this chapter. But his hearers failed to see the profound implications
of it. The problem was not that they did not understand Ezekiel’s language. They refused to listen
to the Lord who sent him.

“But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me,
for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate” (Ezekiel 3:17).
Ezekiel was a “watchman” by divine appointment. The watchman watched over the city and
watched out for approaching danger. It was a lonely, dangerous, thankless duty. While everyone
else slept or went about his business, the watchman was charged with the responsibility of
watching. Often he watched alone. He could be killed and no one would know it until he was
missed. He was taken for granted and only thought of if he failed to warn the city of danger.

Ezekiel as a “watchman” was a reminder that the Lord also watches. “The eyes of the Lord are
everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). He was to serve as the
Lord’s visible eyes, ears, and mouth. Ezekiel as the Lord’s chosen watchman was also a reminder
that his people are really safe only because the Lord watches over them. “Unless the Lord
watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain” (Psalm 127:1). God’s people have
always known that their help, in whatever form it takes, comes from the Lord, and that it is the
Lord that watches over them (Psalm 121:1-5).

It was the Lord who made him his spokesman. Ezekiel spoke for God. His function as a
watchman appointed by God was served by announcing God’s words to the people. The
symbolism of eating the scroll powerfully impressed him with the fact that he spoke only what
God gave him to speak (Ezekiel 2:9-3:4). Ezekiel’s hearers did not get the message because they
did not hear him as one sent by God to speak to them for God. But his hearers were by no means
unique. There have always been those who come, and sit, and listen, but manifest no spiritual
interest. They hear the words of men, but do not hear the word of God. They seek nothing more
than a superficial hearing. They gladly settle for anything as long as it does not involve a
confrontation with God. If they receive anything, to them it is only the words of men, not the the
word of God (I Thessalonians 2:13). No wonder it seems to have little effect in their lives. Paul’s
charge to Timothy was, “Preach the word” (II Timothy 4:2). He wanted Timothy to devote
himself “to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching” (I Tomthy 4:13). If it was
his duty to preach and teach the word of God, it was the duty of his hearers to receive the word of
God. Sadly, many fail in this because they have no spiritual interest, no spiritual appetite for the
word of God.

They did not have spiritual motives.

They came and sat before him, but why did they come and sit? If they had a faulty view of the messenger,
what did they expect to hear from him? They said, “Come and hear the message that has come from the
Lord.” But the Lord said to Ezekiel, “they listen to your words.” It appears that the Lord and “his people”
had two conflicting views of what they were doing and why they were doing it. We have a clue to the
problem in the phrase, “as they usually do.” The KJV reads, “And they come unto thee as the people
cometh, and they sit before thee as my people.” In other words, they gave the impression outwardly that
they were God’s people, by doing what God’s people were expected to do. But inwardly the situation was
entirely different. At the very least it indicates that they came, they sat, and they listened with the wrong
motive.

Their motive was a careless motive. The careless hearer comes with an attitude of indifference
to what might happen, or to what he might hear. Ezekiel’s hearers did not really come and sit
before him because they were possessed with an inner desire to hear a message from God. They
talked about it because they were curious about it. They speculated about what the prophet might
have to say that would be of interest to them. Careless hearers are not serious hearers. They do
not want to get too serious about hearing the word of God. They have no regard for it as the
highest privilege afforded a human being in this world. They fail to treat is as their most solemn
duty. So even though they may come and sit as people customarily do, they are ruled all the while
by a careless mind and a carefree spirit. Carelessness toward the message from God betrays an
attitude that nothing is wrong. The preacher seems to be agitated about issues of his own making.
The eternal destiny of souls is not at stake and there is no great controversy between God and
men. Careless hearers come with their own agenda about what is important and what is not. To
them, the message from the Lord is not of any pressing importance. Other things come first.
Preachers like Ezekiel live with their heads in the clouds. They do not know about the practical
concerns of daily life and living, so they do not preach about them. Careless hearers, in a word,
do not care much for “divinity.” They care about how to get through the day, and the message
from the Lord seems to have nothing to say about that.

Their motive was a formal motive. The careless hearer is also a formal hearer. Ezekiel’s hearers
came “as the people come.” They came because it was expected of them. They came because it
was the accepted practice. They came because they wanted to appear respectable. Formal hearers
abound when they “come and sit” for no other reason than that it is the customary thing to do.
They pass the time with a greater or lesser degree of patience because it is something that has to
be done. Ezekiel’s congregation heard his words. They were aware of what he was saying, but
they were merely formal hearers. Formal hearers can sometimes be easily mistaken for genuine
hearers of God’s word. They are capable of doing everything that is expected of them when it
comes to following custom or propriety. Formal hearers never want it said of them that they are
not part of the program. They do not want to be considered inferior to anyone. Sometimes they
are dependable to a fault, but they are formal hearers. To them, “coming and sitting” before the
prophet is the “proper” thing to do.

Their motive was an irreverent motive. Wrong motives in coming to hear the word of God also
show up in irreverent thoughts, words, and actions. Careless and formal hearers are also
irreverent hearers. Irreverence is disrespect. It means to dishonor something that by its very
nature deserves to be honored. People are irreverent toward the word of God because they come
to it with wrong motives. Ezekiel’s hearers were irreverent hearers. How do we know this? We
know it from what we have already learned about them. We can detect irreverence in their casual
approach to this most remarkable of all privileges and this most solemn of all duties. “Come and
hear the message that has come from the Lord.” And then there is the Lord’s unmistakable
criticism of the heart that he knows so well (verse 31). What is this, if it is not the worst
irreverence toward the most sacred things? It indicates no serious expectation that they were
going to meet with God, or hear from God. Irreverence is a serious offense because it is an
offense against God. Irreverence is what it is because it is committed in the hearing of God’s
word.

No doubt many of Ezekiel’s hearers appeared to be attentive hearers. Even though they were
careless and formal in their hearing, they did at least hear his words. On the other hand, many
were no doubt inattentive. Ezekiel very likely had some who were afflicted with sleeping
sickness, and he could not keep them awake no matter what he did. There were some who lived in
a world of their own, and he could not bring them out of it to pay attention to the message from
the Lord. Very likely there were those with physical afflictions of one kind or another. There were
parents who did not keep their children from running to the rest room. Ezekiel was probably
distracted by people coming and going and moving around while he tried to deliver the message
from the Lord. He had to contend with those who were not only inattentive but also a distraction
to others. Irreverent hearers are not motivated by a desire to meet with God as he speaks in his
word. They assume everyone else is of the same mind. Their inattention is a distraction to others.
They make no effort to encourage others to be attentive, and they do everything to prevent them
from paying attention.

They did not have spiritual goals.

They heard the words but did not put them into practice. Like many modern church-goers, they
would have been deeply offended if you pointed that out to them. Like their modern counterparts,
they tried to persuade themselves that the goal was merely to hear the words of the preacher.
Beyond that, what do you suppose was their goal in coming and sitting before the prophet, and
hearing his words? What did they expect to accomplish? What was the objective? What did they
think was going to happen to them as the result of this exercise? Clearly from God’s point of
view, they came with the wrong goal in mind, if they came to hear the words with no intention of
putting them into practice.

It was not their goal to know what God had said. They struggled through each day with the
hopeless existence of life in a refugee camp. Life was what it was and they could do nothing
about it. They would not repent despite the Lord’s pleadings with them through his messenger
(Ezekiel 33:10,11). The word of the Lord was distasteful and humbling to them, so they thought
they could disregard it. They would rather accuse God of injustice than acknowledge their own
(33:17-20). It is the mark of the worst self-deception when people presume that life goes on and
they can get along just as well with or without the knowledge of God. They forget “that man does
not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy
8:3). They have nothing but contempt for the godly man’s devotion to the word of God when he
declares, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11)
and, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Furthermore, it was not their goal to believe and obey what God had said. They “listen to
your words, but they do not put them into practice.” The Lord God knew what they had in mind.
He knew that their goal in hearing did not involve doing anything about what they heard. They
were like those of whom the apostle James complained who were hearers only (James 1:22-25).
They are hearers, but not doers, of the word of God. Such people deceive themselves. They think
that hearing is enough, or that hearing is an end in itself. They are self-deceived if they think all
they need to do is accumulate information or put in an appearance. They are self-deceived if they
think that hearing can be a substitute for doing, or that more hearing can make up for less doing.
But the goal in hearing from God is that we may do what God says.

Jesus asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” He then went on to
liken such a response to a man who builds a house without a foundation. The house, representing
the person’s life, “collapsed and its destruction was complete” (Luke 6:46-49).

They did not have spiritual priorities.

Wrong priorities were betrayed by the contradiction between what was in their mouth and
what was in their heart. There was devotion in their mouth but greed in their heart. “With their
mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.” The KJV renders it,
“with their mouth they show much love.” But this translation is not so accurate. What they
professed was not love. There was nothing sincere or substantial about it. It was the same “love”
for which, sadly, Israel had been notorious for a long time. In his parable of the two sisters,
Ezekiel called it what it was (Ezekiel 23). It was the worst perversion of love. Just as they played
games with their other lovers, they were playing games with God. The things of God were a
pastime. They gave flowery praise to the preacher and admired his way with words. They
professed great appreciation for the word of God. But at the same time their inner thoughts were
riveted on the world and its business. Their coming and sitting and listening amounted to nothing
more than a speed bump on the road of life. They had more important things on their minds.
Jeremiah complained to the Lord, “You are always on their lips but far from their hearts”
(Jeremiah 12:2). The Lord had identified this hypocrisy in Isaiah’s day. “These people come near
to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah
29:13). The Lord Jesus handed down the same indictment on the Pharisees (Matthew 15:7-9).

Additionally, wrong priorities result in wrong practice. Ironically, the same hearers who had
no intention of doing what they heard, had been very busy doing other things. Ezekiel’s hearers
were more intent on doing their own things than understanding the things of God. Like many
modern hearers, they had been busy making idols. Ezekiel was sent to tell them that their idolatry
was in large part responsible for God’s judgment on Jerusalem (33:25,26). Yet even when the
news of the fall of the city reached them, they were in no better mood to hear the word of the
Lord. There was, in other words, little evidence of the word having any practical effect in their
lives. Such is the case with those who come, sit, and hear with wrong priorities. They come with
more ambition to do things than to understand things. They come to us and inform us of their
abilities and ideas. They are qualified for every office. They can be put in charge of any program.
They come with the air of superiority about them. They know how to “get things done.” They
have ideas that no one has ever thought of. They are incessantly busy, but they have little time for
learning and applying the word of God. Do they understand the word of God? Of course they do.
And so, when God’s word is preached, they might be seen flitting in and out of the service. You
might find them working in the library, or counting the money, or keeping the Sunday school
records, or cleaning the kitchen. Such people may appear to be “on fire for the Lord,” but their
priorities are wrong.

They did not have spiritual values.

For them, Ezekiel was good entertainment. “Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one
who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well.” They admired his
abilities and complimented him on his insights. They went to hear him perform, not to hear him
preach. To them, Ezekiel was a diversion. To Ezekiel, it was an occasion to deliver the word of
the Lord. Here was a time when religious meetings were drawing the crowds. Attendance was
never better. But God saw the truth of the matter. Ezekiel’s hearers, like many today, were looking
for immediate gratification rather than long-term improvement. They valued his ministry if it had
a pleasing effect on them for the moment. They did not value it for its potential to transform their
lives. They did not see holiness as the only road to lasting happiness. Many people today think
that whatever is presented under the name of “ministry” is validated entirely by its ability to
entertain them. They are attracted to “things Christian,” but their Christianity is ornamental, like
the lights and decorations on the Christmas tree.

It is important to add, however, that Ezekiel’s hearers did expect him to say something
about God. They would have been surprised if he failed in that. But, like many modern hearers,
they were satisfied with a minimal message. What he said was of no great concern to them as
long as he said something. This, after all, was the pretext for their coming and sitting before him.
“Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord,” they said. And all are agreed that this
is what preachers do. Many of them, like some modern church members, would be
uncomfortable if they had no preacher. This is why strange things happen sometimes when a
church is seeking a pastor. People who have not been seen for months, or even years, suddenly
take an interest in what is going on. The church must have a pastor. The church must have
someone to preach. And once that person is located and installed, all is well once again and those
same members vanish from sight. What do they value? Certainly it is not the faithful exposition
of the word of God. Just as certainly it is not the application of the word of God to their lives.

People whose values are upside down are self-indulgent people. It is possible to be self-indulgent
even under the ministry of the word of God. People who come, sit, and listen can be among the
most selfish people you would ever want to meet. While they sit there, their hearts are greedy for
something. They have made something their god. They are thinking about it, planning for it,
nurturing it, and protecting it. And if the ministry of the word of God is going to find any place in
their lives, it will only find a place insofar as it makes them feel good about what they are doing.
They want a message that will encourage them to love themselves and their idols more. They
want a message that will sing and play them to sleep in their sin. They want a message that places
no requirements on them to do anything they don’t want to do.

The Lord assured Ezekiel that he would have the last word. The truth and authority of God’s word
never depend on how men respond to it. God’s promise is, “When all this comes true - and it
surely will - then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” It was not the only time
the Lord had said this to his prophet (2:5). This is the assurance he gives to those he sends to
speak in his name.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the
earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish
what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10,11).

It is also a word of assurance to all who come, sit , and hear in the spirit of Ezekiel’s hearers.
They will know, not guess, suspect, or speculate, but know, that a prophet has been among them.
Such knowledge will come as a fearful burden to those who refuse it now. Think of the awful
contrast between not knowing now, and knowing then. Are you like Ezekiel’s hearers? Do you
come and sit and listen? Do you hear the words of a man, but fail to hear the word of God? When
these things come to pass, and they will, you will know that God had posted a watchman among
you. He warned you of the danger but you refused to heed his warning, and your blood will be on
your own head. When it comes to pass that it is time for you to die, and it will, you will know
that a prophet has been among you. When it comes to pass that you must appear at the judgment,
and it will, you will know that a prophet has been among you. When it comes to pass that the
sheep are separated from the goats, and it will come to pass, you will know that a prophet has
been among you. When it comes to pass that the saved are invited to inherit the kingdom prepared
for them, and it will, you will know that a prophet has been among you. When it comes to pass
that the lost are banished to eternal fire, and it will, you will know that a prophet has been among
you. When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and he will come, you will know that a prophet
has been among you. When the end comes and “he hands over the kingdom to God the Father
after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power” (I Corinthians 15:24), and these things
will come to pass, you will know that a prophet has been among you.

The Lord forewarned Ezekiel that he was being sent to preach to a people who were rebellious,
obstinate, and stubborn. They were a “rebellious house” (2:1-8). God forbid that you should be
like them. He appeals to you as he did to them:

“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you
die, O house of Israel?”

Preached September 3 and 10, 1989

Revised and preached January 9 and 16, 2005