As we noted last time, the blessing that follow a life lived in obedience to God are clearly outlined in the first 13 verses of this chapter. In this section, the events that follow willful disobedience are just as clearly noted. Last time, we saw the path of obedience leads to life; now we will see that the broad way leads only to destruction. Let’s consider the–
1. Evils that follow disobedience, But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands…then there will be:
Great fearfulness, verse 16. When a church strays from the Lord, it will soon worry about everything: offerings, innovations, everything except worldliness and sin. In the same way, a person who is out of fellowship with God will find no relief from fear. Disobedience brings fear of the world and fear in the service of God.
Certain decline, verse 16. Disobedience is a disease that rots down to the bones. A church that has left its first love will break out in wounds greater than the plaster can heal. Organs, images, paid choirs and painted windows may bring about the appearance of health, but the disease of disobedience is spreading just below the veneer of soundness. Just as an individual with diabetes can appear healthy by taking medication, so a church may appear healthy, but disobedience leaves nothing but weakness and disorder within.
Unhealthy activity, verse 16. This verse suggests bursts of useless activity; planting seed only to have it dug up by the enemy. These useless efforts–spasms of activity–are all designed to make a church look like it’s doing something. These spasms may take the form of concerts, short sermons, movies, popular topics, or other entertainment. Such breathless activity in the Name of Christ resembles the excitement of the dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision.
Fruitless work, verses 16 and 20. There may be sincerity, but as long as there is rebellion anything done for the Lord will be like beating the air (1 Samuel 15:22). A preacher may sow all kinds of seed, but it will be in vain so long as his life remains unconsecrated to the Lord. You are wasting your time if you are working for the Lord under your own strength. Fruitbearing depends on what we are more than what we do.
Slavish cowardliness, verse 17. To disobey God, you pay a very high price: you walk out from under His protective covering and open yourself up to all manner of tyranny from the world, the flesh and the devil. When you are being bombarded from without, it will start from within; you will begin to fear things that aren’t there and people that don’t even know you, because within you beats an evil heart full of unbelief, and a conscience not void of offense.
Unanswered prayer, verse 19. An iron heaven is a heaven closed up. Unanswered prayer is unheard prayer. Our prayers prevail just as we and they are right with God (James 5:16). Prayers prayed for the ears of man instead of the ears of God will never pierce through the iron of heaven. If the heavens seem closed up against you, it is sure evidence that you are not right with God.
Sorrowful loss, verse 22. The wild beasts of infidelity, doubt, skepticism, contempt and indifference has already robbed a disobedient Church of her many children. An impotent, unfaithful church full of deceit and false teachings will not keep the rising generation. Why are so many Churches full of goats instead of sheep? Why are so many churches empty? The cause of the collapse of so many churches is not the want of interest from without, but the want of reality within.
Internal divisions, verse 37. “Devouring one another” is the final stage of this spiritual consumption. Empty hearts, empty pews, backsliding members and fault-finding elders and lazy preachers are just the natural consequences of a backsliding and disobedient Church.
2. The Cure. The cure for this spiritual malady will be found in—
Confession, verse 40. Confess your shortcomings and sins to God, don’t point fingers and blame one another. Note the words of Psalm 32:5.
Humiliation, verse 41. If there is a true consciousness of sin, there will be a true repentance and rending of the heart.
Faith, verses 42-45. Unwavering trust in His Word of promise. When sin if confessed, the place of humility found, the attitude of faith maintained, then the mighty power of God’s grace will be displayed and the destructive curses of the disobedient life will be washed away. When this happens, the wonderful and joyous fruits of obedience will soon appear.
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