Perhaps you have heard this, or even said it yourself. I’m sure most of us have heard men and women of God whom God has used in a mighty way in our lives and in the lives of others. Perhaps you may not have been aware that the above title was found in the book of Ezekiel:
In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has fallen!” ...“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.’ 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. 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. When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 33:21, 30-33
Granted, I have paraphrased what the people said, but it is, in essence, the same. Let’s get some context before we go any further. Jerusalem had fallen; the Babylonians had conquered the city and the news reaches the exiles in Babylonia. [For the more of the story, go to Jeremiah 39.] Chapter 33 begins with God calling on the prophet to be the faithful watchman so as not to incur guilt by failing to warn the Israelites of their sin. God calls the people to repent of their evil ways and then exposes their sin and false motives.
Here is a summary is the heart of the message to the exiles:
– The exiles have a desire to “hear” God’s prophet:
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
– The exiles had an established habit to go and hear what the prophet had to say:
My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words
– However, they only listen, never with the intent to put into practice or have any personal application to what is being said:
but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain They even speak of love, but their motives are impure and their actions betray them.
– They treat what they hear as entertainment.
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
– God encourages the prophet to continue to be faithful regardless.
When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.
So what does that have to do with us? Great question; I’m glad you asked. When we go to worship, are we going just “enjoy the music” or “enjoy the preacher?” If we fail to see growth in our walk with Christ or fail to see our attitudes and responses become more conformed to that of Christ after worship, then we are walking perilously close to what we see in the verses above.
Notice that they had an established habit of hearing God’s Word, but that there was a refusal for God’s Word to change their established habits that were contrary to that Word. Another way to describe it was they enjoyed being entertained, but not transformed. Even when we look for “inspiration” during a worship we betray a focus on self; Worship is God-centered. Inspiration may make us feel better, but true worship can transform us.
Stop and reflect on your worship. Are you being transformed, day by day more into the image of God’s Son? It is time to take seriously the words of the prophet Ezekiel.
