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Like a Sensual Song

Wayne Galloway
09/04/22 - Sunday Evening Worship

Series: Worship

Like A Sensual Song

Ezek. 33:30-33

 

Introduction:

 

1.  How many of you enjoy listening to music?  King David was a musician.  King Saul enjoyed hearing him.  It seemed to calm his spirit.  I know that within this group there are those enjoy playing instruments, enjoy singing, song writing and enjoy listening to music.

2.   In Ezek. 33:30-33 God speaks of Ezekiel’s prophesies as being to the people “like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument,” but it is not a favorable reference.

3.  Listen to what God says . . . (Read 30-33).

4.  “They hear your words but they do not practice them.”

 

Discussion:

 

I.    These people recognized that Ezekiel’s message was the message of God (30).

 

      A.  They were fellow-citizens with Ezekiel of the kingdom of God.  We too are fellow-citizens

            of the kingdom of God (cf. Eph. 2:19).

      B.  These were people who talked about Ezekiel and about his message.

      C.  They invited others to come and hear not just Ezekiel’s message, but “the message which

            comes forth from the Lord.”

      D.  We can study about the Bible.  We can reflect on its inspiration and authority.  We can be

            fully convinced that it is the message of God.  We can talk about it and invite others to

            come and hear it, but if we do not do it we stand self convicted.  For he who knows the

            right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17).

 

II.  They came and heard the words Ezekiel spoke (31a).

 

      A.  There are those who avoid circumstances where the word of God is spoken.

            1.  They avoid worship assemblies.

            2.  They avoid Bible classes.

            3.  Perhaps they do this because of a lack of conviction.  Perhaps they do not understand

                 that it is actually the word of God that is being spoken.  Perhaps they cannot

                 distinguish the word of God from the words of men.

            4.  Perhaps some of them understand that it is the word of God that is spoken on such

                 occasions, understand that their lives are inconsistent with it and thus they avoid the

                 added conviction brought about by being in the presence of the message of God. 

                 They had just rather not deal with the call to repentance.

            5.  This is not the case with the people that God is referring to here.

            6.  They recognize that it is the word of God that is being spoken and they come to hear

                  it.  They even invite others.

       B.  Surely their hearts are touched by it.  Surely they feel the conviction and are drawn to

             respond in obedience.

       C.  There are hindrances:  their mouths speak of lustful desires and their heart goes after

             their gain (31).

             1.  This speaks to me of a conscious deliberate decision. 

             2.  They are like the soil choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life (Lk.

                   8:14).

             3.  Are we like them?  How can we know?

                  a.  What do we talk about?  Is our talk dominated by talking about what we want?

                       Listen to what you are saying for it is out of the heart that come evil thoughts,

                       murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders (cf. Matt. 15:19-20,

                       note the context 15:1ff).

                  b.  Consider James 4:1, 11, 13.

             4.  What is your heart going after? Their heart was going after their gain.  Cf. Lk. 8:14: 

                   “worries, riches, pleasures of this life.”

             5.  Contrast with talking about and going after . . . seeking out ways to help others. 

                  Illustrate with email requesting help to support Colombian students coming to F.C. to

                  receive an education.

             6.  Is your conversation filled with what you are thankful for or filled with desire for

                  more so that you can spend it on your pleasures (James 4:1ff).

 

III.  God said to Ezekiel, “You are to them like a sensual song” (32).

 

      A.  He is not talking about a sexually sensual song, but a song that is beautiful

            and pleasant.

            1.  Ezekiel may have been a pleasant speaker.  I do not know.  I doubt that that is the

                  consideration here.

            2.  Some that have an appreciation for the word of God enjoy it as they would pleasant

                 music.  They enjoy feeling motivated to do good.  They may even enjoy feeling

                 convicted, rebuked, reproved.

            3.  But if there is no change what of it?  Meeting in California where one Christian

                 observed that people do not expect to be changed by the message.  Or they do not

                 expect to change.  Is what we are doing a mere academic exercise???  Are we like

                 those Paul described in 2 Tim.3:7:  “always learning and never able to come to the

                 knowledge of the truth?”  Are we just learning Bible trivia?  Or are we expecting the

                 word of God to change our lives?  It will if we allow it.

       B.  God told Ezekiel, “They hear your words but they do not practice them.”

             1.  Practice takes sacrifice.

             2.  Are you willing to give your time to the Lord?  Your money?  Your children?  Your

                  pride?  Your self?

       C.  Some people just do not understand the practical value of the word of God.

             1.  They do not understand that it brings blessing, removes shame, keeps ones way pure,

                  keeps from sin, brings delight, delivers from affliction, gives light and understanding

                  (Psa. 119:2, 6, 9, 11, 67, 130, 153, 170).

             2.  Lack of understanding combined with sensual desires for gain is a deadly

                  combination.

              3.  But is knowing what the word of God provides and not doing it any less deadly?

 

IV.  What should messengers of God expect?  What does God expect from His message?

 

       A.  I really do appreciate those who compliment me and say kind and encouraging things

             when I try to present the word of God.  I believe these people probably spoke kind

             things to Ezekiel when he presented the word of God.

       B.  But the Lord was looking for more than kind words.  He was looking for changed hearts.

             1.  Like those on Pentecost who where pierced to the heart and asked “What shall we

                  do?” (Acts 2:37).

             2.  The Lord is looking for us to bear fruit with perseverance (Lk. 8:15).

             3.  The Lord is looking for us to become imitators of Him, an example to all believers,

                   sounding forth the word (1 Thess. 1:5-10).  He is looking for us to turn, to serve and

                   to wait for His son.

             4.  He wants us to be diligent to present ourselves approved, handling accurately the

                  word (2 Tim. 2:15).

        C.  If we do not receive such a love for the truth a deluding influence may be sent to lull us

              into complacency (2 Thess. 2:10-15).

 

Conclusion:

 

1.  Let us not only recognize the word of God for what it is, the word of God.

2.  Let us not only hear His words.

3.  Let us not only hear it as a sensual song.

4.  “Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22).

5.  Let us find the blessing that God offers us by being effectual doers and not forgetful hearers.