Topical Bible: Prophecy: Punishment For: Not Giving Ear To

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In the biblical narrative, prophecy serves as a divine communication channel through which God conveys His will, warnings, and promises to His people. The role of the prophet is to deliver these messages faithfully, urging the people to heed God's word. However, the Scriptures also detail the severe consequences for those who refuse to listen to prophetic warnings.

Biblical Instances and Warnings:

1. Jeremiah's Warnings to Judah:
The prophet Jeremiah was sent to the people of Judah with a message of impending judgment due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry. Despite his earnest pleas, the people refused to listen. Jeremiah 25:4-7 states, "And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear. They said, 'Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and deeds, and you can dwell in the land the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever. Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.' But you would not listen to Me, declares the LORD, and you have provoked Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own harm."

2. Consequences for Ignoring Prophets:
The refusal to heed prophetic warnings often resulted in dire consequences. In 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 , the chronicler recounts, "Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD was stirred up against His people, and there was no remedy."

3. Ezekiel's Message to the Exiles:
The prophet Ezekiel was tasked with delivering God's message to the exiles in Babylon. Despite the clarity of his warnings, many did not listen. Ezekiel 3:7 records, "But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hardheaded and hardhearted."

4. The Example of King Zedekiah:
King Zedekiah of Judah serves as a poignant example of the consequences of ignoring prophetic counsel. Despite Jeremiah's repeated warnings, Zedekiah chose to rebel against Babylon, leading to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Jeremiah 52:2-3 notes, "He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done. For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence."

Theological Implications:

The refusal to listen to God's prophets is portrayed in Scripture as a grave sin, reflecting a hardened heart and a rejection of divine authority. This disobedience not only incurs God's wrath but also leads to spiritual and often physical ruin. The biblical narrative underscores the importance of heeding God's word through His prophets, as it is a means of grace intended to guide, correct, and ultimately save His people from destruction.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 9:30
Yet many years did you forbear them, and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the people of the lands.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Acts ii. 22
... then, though thou be silent of the punishment, be sure ... the Prophet was under constraint:
for the prophecy was concerning ... For do not argue that you do not see ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily vi acts ii 22.htm

Matt. xxvi. 67, 68
... But these things the prophecy foretold from of old. ... And if he do not as yet suffer
his punishment, for this self-same thing I say bewail him, for he is ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxxv matt xxvi 67.htm

Great Voices from Heaven
... of the divine pity, which 'doth not willingly afflict ... vision; but the wider sense
of the prophecy embraces the ... bondage, and to exact no more punishment for sins ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/great voices from heaven.htm

Christ Our Passover
... and then also comes that long chapter of prophecy concerning what ... the form of strangling,
that mode of punishment does not ... I shall be saved." That will not do. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ our passover.htm

Book x. It is Manifest that There is Nothing which Men have ever ...
... dwelling in Jesus as the spirit of prophecy dwelt in ... were consumed, and the ministers
of punishment were themselves ... or the man who was born was not the Christ ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book x it is manifest.htm

Scripture the Criterion by which Truth and Heresy are ...
... listens to the Lord, and follows the prophecy given by ... But God does not punish, for
punishment is retaliation ... heathen His statutes," that they may not be judged ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xvi scripture the criterion by.htm

Of Civil Government.
... the pious worshippers of God; for the prophecy refers to ... are sent by him for the
punishment of evil ... to attend to that Divine Providence which, not without cause ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of civil government.htm

The Prodigal Son.
... This prophecy of Scripture is not of private construction; and therefore ... ventured
to hope for exemption from deserved punishment, but not for restoration ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/xxiv the prodigal son.htm

Matt. Iii. 7
... and unto Sarah that bare you." [471] Now of this prophecy, you see ... Since in truth
no entreaty shall avert the punishment from them who have not shown forth ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xi matt iii 7.htm

Chapter xix.
... who injures does not deserve merely as much punishment as the ... sounds like an insult
to those who do not understand it; but to those who do, it is a prophecy. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xix.htm