Turning a Deaf Ear

“Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:” (Zec 7:13 AV)

Why does this surprise us?  What makes us think the LORD is obligated to listen every time we have an issue or need?  Why do we think the LORD’s forgiveness or benevolence has no limits?  What makes us think we can live the way we wish yet God is obligated to listen to us and grant our wishes?  What makes us think He is obligated to meet our needs separate and apart from how we live?  This is the condition of Judah and Israel at the time of this prophet.  Zechariah prophesied in the time of the return to Jerusalem.  This particular prophecy came in the early reign of Darius, king of the Medes and Persians.  This places the context of the sermon during a time when Israel had returned and was rebuilding the temple.  In particular, this prophecy came at a time when the building of the temple was temporarily halted and the people went back to their own properties to invest in what they had regained.  They are being reminded that as they had abandoned the work of God for their own interests, yet are crying out to the LORD for needs of their own, the LORD is not entertaining their needs.  Because they had turned a deaf ear to the word of God, God, in turn has turned a deaf ear to them.

Yet another example from my two years of teaching High School Bible.  There were times a teacher would ease up on class assignments.  Homework would be relaxed.  Tests would be rescheduled.  If there were special days like Home Coming or a Revival, assignments would be put off or the class could get ahead of their work so they could have time off from the workload.  However, there were times when class behavior did not earn the grace that was expected.  I had to pull this a couple of times.  One was over the holiday break.  Those two weeks off for Christmas and the New Year.  The last thing students want to do is classwork.  However, my class was more than out of control.  I warned them if they continued to behave like they were, there would be consequences.  This went on for weeks on end.  So, I devised a plan that numerically recorded bad behavior.  When the time came, those who had good behavior marks had no class assignment over the holidays.  Based on the graduated system put in place, assignments went out for the holidays.  Needless to say, many were not too happy with their teacher.  The parents were not pleased as well.  All the complaints went on deaf ears.  I didn’t want to hear it because they didn’t want to hear my correction.  Too bad!

Our God is a merciful God.  He demands perfection, but not by our own efforts.  He has granted the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we may live according to His word.  He is longsuffering.  When we fail He is quick to forgive us.  God is love.  John tells us this truth.  God is so loving that He sent His only Son to endure the wrath of His Father rightly deserved upon us.  He suffered and died that we might have eternal life.  He is kind and caring.  He meets our needs and anticipates our hurts.  When we suffer, He is tender-hearted.  His mercy and grace go way beyond our ability to comprehend them.  Yet, we seem to forget all this mercy and grace has with it an expectation.  One which we miserably fail at.  His mercy and grace are not strictly tied to our obedience and faith.  Otherwise, it wouldn’t be grace and mercy.  However, this does not imply the LORD is obligated to exercise mercy and grace no matter what we do.  He is well within His holiness to withhold mercy and grace based on our behavior.  We forget this quite a lot.  We expect the LORD to be infinitely longsuffering.  When we do, we become presumptuous towards God’s love.  He doesn’t have to listen.  He doesn’t have to care.  And, based on how we treat Him and His word, sometimes He doesn’t.