Silence is not Golden

 

By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 33:21-33

 

Ezekiel 33:31

So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.

(NKJV)

 

In James 1:19, Scripture teaches us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to wrath. However, this passage does not say to be silent but to be slow to speak. Judah and Jerusalem fell due to their abominations against God and His word. As we observe the abominations of a woke culture occurring in the world we live in, it is not a time for silence but a time to speak up against these abominations. However, we must be slow to speak and not lash out in judgement, but speak in love, pointing people to Jesus, the source of their salvation.

 

Jerusalem has fallen and a man who escaped the destruction has come to Ezekiel to let him know of Jerusalem’s destruction (Ezekiel 33:21). Ezekiel had been unable to speak at this time but had received a word from the Lord opening his mouth so he could speak with the survivor of Jerusalem’s destruction delivered his message (Ezekiel 33:22). The Lord came to Ezekiel, telling him of the pride and arrogance of the people of Judah, believing they were mightier than Abraham because of their numbers (Ezekiel 33:23-24). The Lord then instructs Ezekiel to point out their abominations against the Lord and their reliance on their sword or strength in numbers, asking them if people like this should possess the land given to Abraham by God (Ezekiel 33:25-26). The Lord then instructs Ezekiel to tell them that those living in the ruins will fall by the sword, beasts will devour those in the open field, and those in the strongholds will die of pestilence (Ezekiel 33:27). The Lord will make the land desolate with no one able to pass through it with the purpose of showing His people that He is Lord (Ezekiel 33:28-29).  

 

The Lord then lets Ezekiel know that the people are talking about him and telling each other to come to him and hear what the Lord has to say (Ezekiel 33:30). While this may seem like the people are returning to the Lord, the Lord lets Ezekiel know that while they come to hear the word, they have no intention in their hearts to do what it says (Ezekiel 33:31-32). Now that the destruction of Jerusalem has come to pass, the people of Jerusalem and Judah will know that a prophet is among them (Ezekiel 33:33).  

 

The people of Judah and Jerusalem had been warned many times of their destruction and now, with the fall of Jerusalem are beginning to see it happen (Jeremiah 14:12, 24:10, 29:17-18; Ezekiel 7:15). However, they still put on the appearance of obedience by gathering around Ezekiel to hear the word from the Lord but still do not intend to do what the Word tells them to do, repent (Ezekiel 33:31-32). The word of God is more than just pleasant words to hear but a pathway for living a godly life (Psalm 119:105). God’s people must repent of being hearers of the word of God who have much academic knowledge of the word and live in obedience to what the Word tells them to do. The people of Judah and Jerusalem were not ignorant of the word of God but unwilling to apply it in their lives.

 

Like the people of Judah and Jerusalem, the Church has been given the privilege of receiving salvation by the grace of God and a mission to share that message with the world (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19-20). However, instead of being an agent of change in a lost world, the Church remains silent about the abominations of a woke culture like abortion (Psalm 139:13-14), gay marriage (Matthew 19:4-6), and the mutilation of transgender reassignment surgery (Deuteronomy 23:1). The Church must repent of its silence and disobedience and speak out against the abominations occurring in the world. The church must not allow fear which is not from God and a trap to stop the declaration of God’s truth to a world desperately needing salvation (Proverbs 29:25; 2 Timothy 1:7).

 

Jesus, the Son of God endured the excruciating pain of crucifixion, taking our judgment for sin upon Himself even though he did not sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus then resurrected from the dead in mastery over sin and death and has given the Church the mission of sharing that truth to a sinful world (Romans 3:23, 8:2; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus told us that if the Church lifts Him up, He will draw all people unto him (John 12:32). Revival will come when the Church repents of its silence and returns to its mission of lifting up Jesus by spreading the Gospel.

 

If you have never prayed to repent of your sins, seeking forgiveness from God, and to make to receive eternal life through believing and confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:9-10), I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God bless, challenge, and convict everyone reading this post.