Ezekiel 7:26 and the Privilege of Hearing God’s Voice
A Devotional Reflection from Ezekiel 7:26
Some passages of Scripture are meant to slow us down and call us to listen a little more closely. Ezekiel 7:26 is one of those verses for me.
This verse reminds us that hearing from the Lord is a gift, and one that should never be taken for granted. As we read and reflect on this Scripture, may our hearts stay soft and attentive to hear from the Lord. May we realize what a privilege we have to be able to read His Word and hear from our Creator!
Key Scripture: Ezekiel 7:26 (CSB)
“Disaster after disaster will come,
and there will be rumor after rumor.
Then they will seek a vision from a prophet,
but instruction will perish from the priests
and counsel from the elders.”
Ezekiel 7:26
A Tragic Moment Too Late
Ezekiel 7:26 is one of those verses that stops you and really makes you think.
It shows a heartbreaking picture of people who would finally want to hear from the Lord. Eventually, they would be desperately seeking His voice, but they would discover that the opportunity had passed.
- Instruction would be gone.
- Counsel would have faded away.
- They voice of the Lord that they ignored would no longer be speaking.
How tragic it must have been to realize they were ready to listen, only after years of refusing to hear.
A Brief History of the Time
The Israelite people of Ezekiel’s day (and earlier) had fallen so far away from the Lord. They had taken on idol worship like the nations around them as well as “detestable practices” according to the Word.
God had spoken to them again and again through His prophets (Ezekiel and others), but the people would not listen. They totally dismissed His warnings and refused correction and repentance. They turned away from truth until, eventually, the silence came.
God Spoke, But They Would Not Listen
This was not a case of God being silent without reason.
The Lord had faithfully sent many messengers/prophets. He had warned, pleaded, instructed, and even prophesied of the disaster to come. However, His Word was rejected so often that the people’s hearts grew hard. By the time the disaster came, they wanted answers, but they still weren’t ready to repent.
When you read the Bible, you see a 400 year period of silence between the prophet Malachi and John the Baptist. Four centuries passed without a prophetic voice in Israel. Imagine wanting to hear from God and having no fresh word, no prophet, no message from the Lord.
When we read Ezekiel 7:26 with that context, it reminds us just how precious the opportunity to hear God’s truth really is.
Never Take His Word for Granted
Today, we live in a time of incredible access to God’s Word.
We have multiple Bibles in our homes, on our phones, and in many translations. We can hear sound teaching in churches or on podcasts, study Scripture freely, pray openly, and seek the Lord without fear of persecution in many parts of the world. (It is not like that everywhere.)
Yet even now, many people only want to hear what they want to believe.
The apostle Paul warned Timothy about this very thing.
Don’t Miss the Moment to Listen
Ezekiel 7:26 reminds us that there is a huge difference between having access to God’s voice and being willing to hear it.
The people of Israel did not lose God’s instruction overnight. It faded after years of rejection, disobedience, and hardened hearts. By the time they truly wanted to listen, the voices they once ignored were gone.
I hope we never find ourselves in that place.
We are blessed beyond words to live in a time when God’s Word is so readily available. We are invited to open our Bibles daily and listen. This is not something to rush through or take lightly. It is a privilege!
For more on listening to Him, see, “How to Recognize the Shepherd’s Voice.”
What’s Next
It is so easy to get caught up in the events of the day and let our prayer life and Bible reading fall to the back burner. If it goes on too long, we can find ourselves slipping away and not even noticing. That “Slow Fade” can be disastrous!
After so long of rejecting His truth, you can become hard-hearted and possibly not even hear Him speak.
Lord help us not to let it get to that point!
Let’s make a point to cherish His Word by not only reading it but also listening to what He is telling us and doing our best to obey. Let’s take every opportunity to hear from the Lord.
Join Me
I would love for you to join us each week if you don’t already. Here is a sign up to receive the messages directly to your inbox.
Looking for a New Bible
If you are in need of a new Bible, or if you are looking to buy one as a gift, you may want to read, “How to Choose the Right Bible for Personal Bible Study.”
Here are a couple of our favorite Bibles:
- She Reads Bible (CSB)
- Study Bible (CSB) – This is one of the ones Jay uses for personal Bible study.
Related Posts
Is It Possible to Grieve with Grace and Joy
Time Lessons: Like Sands Through the Hourglass
Blessings Beyond the Rut
Eternal Gifts for the Ones we Love
How to Read Through the Bible: A Simple Plan
Until next time,
disclosure: Amazon affiliate links and others are used on this page. Thank you for supporting Home with Grace and Joy. When you purchase an item, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure and privacy policy on the website.
“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalms 94:19
