Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of the wicked refusing to hear the Law of God is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures. This refusal is not merely a passive neglect but an active rejection of divine instruction and moral guidance. The Bible portrays this attitude as a hallmark of the wicked, contrasting it with the righteous who delight in God's law.
Biblical References:1.
Proverbs 28:9 · "Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable." This verse underscores the seriousness of ignoring God's law. It suggests that those who refuse to listen to divine instruction render their prayers unacceptable to God, highlighting the integral relationship between obedience and communion with the Divine.
2.
Zechariah 7:11-12 · "But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped their ears from hearing. They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets." Here, the prophet Zechariah describes the obstinacy of the people, illustrating their deliberate choice to reject God's messages delivered through His prophets. This passage emphasizes the willful nature of their disobedience.
3.
Jeremiah 6:10 · "To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen? Look, their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it." Jeremiah laments the people's refusal to heed God's warnings. Their closed ears symbolize a hardened heart, resistant to divine correction and guidance.
4.
Isaiah 30:9-11 · "These are a rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. They say to the seers, 'See no more visions,' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right. Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.'" This passage highlights the desire of the wicked to avoid confronting the truth of God's law, preferring instead to hear comforting falsehoods.
Theological Implications:The refusal to hear God's law is not merely an act of disobedience but a profound spiritual rebellion. It reflects a heart that is resistant to God's authority and a mind that is closed to His wisdom. This rejection is often accompanied by a lifestyle that is contrary to the principles of righteousness and justice outlined in Scripture.
The wicked's refusal to hear is depicted as a conscious choice, one that leads to spiritual blindness and moral decay. It is a rejection of the covenant relationship that God offers, wherein His law serves as a guide for living a life that is pleasing to Him.
Moral and Spiritual Consequences:The Scriptures warn of severe consequences for those who refuse to hear God's law. This refusal leads to a separation from God, as seen in
Proverbs 28:9, where even the prayers of the disobedient are deemed detestable. The spiritual deafness of the wicked results in a life devoid of divine wisdom and guidance, ultimately leading to judgment and destruction.
In contrast, the righteous are those who not only hear but also delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night (
Psalm 1:2). They are portrayed as trees planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in season and prospering in all they do (
Psalm 1:3).
Conclusion:The refusal of the wicked to hear the law of God is a theme that underscores the importance of obedience and the dire consequences of spiritual rebellion. The Bible calls believers to heed God's law, embracing it as the path to life and blessing.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Isaiah 30:9That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Torrey's Topical TextbookJeremiah 6:19
Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xvii. 21, "How Oft Shall My ...
... the lord summoned his servant to his presence, and said to him, "O thou wicked servant,
when ... Righteousness consists in the observance of the Law of God: true ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxxiii on the words.htm
Sin and Forgiveness Between Brethren.
... The Roman law permitted such a punishment, and it ... [God's forgiveness places us under
obligation to be forgiving ... lord does not call the servant wicked because he ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxiv sin and forgiveness between.htm
Free Grace (Preached Before the Queen at Windsor, March 12, 1865. ...
... Of a God whom Moses' law, saying merely, 'Thou shalt ... verse before it is said, Let
the wicked forsake his ... Jews of old, when they refused to hear God speaking in ...
/.../the water of life and other sermons/sermon viii free grace preached.htm
Of the Trinity and a Christian, and of the Law and a Christian.
... Jeremiah 12:1). Mark, first he acknowledgeth that God's way with the wicked is just ...
from the dead, both may and ought to deal with this law of God; yea, it ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of the trinity and a.htm
The Spirit of the Law
... towards recompensing in the world the righteous and the wicked. ... The love of God and
consequent union with Him ... part, which the revelation of the law brings with ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the spirit of the law.htm
The Carnal Mind Enmity against God
... but corruption; it is not rebellious, it is rebellion; it is not wicked, it is ... affection,
some the desire, of the flesh, is not subject to the Law of God. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the carnal mind enmity against.htm
A Kingdom's Epitaph
... the vile Canaanites and all the rest of the wicked crew before ... become like God, and
of which the whole law is put ... 'Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a kingdoms epitaph.htm
God's Love for a Sinning World
... are not unfortunate children, but are intensely wicked"intelligently wicked. ... reference
to the holiness of His law and the ... Yet God is not unhappy in these self ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/sermons on gospel themes/i gods love for a.htm
Article vi: of Confession and Satisfaction.
... calls beggarly ordinances], yet the confidence that satisfaction is rendered God's
Law [yea, that more is done than God demands] is vain and wicked. ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 16 article vi of.htm
The Final Warning.
... came upon Elijah, moving him to rebuke the sins of a wicked king and ... new fields,
and the minds of the people are called to God's down-trodden law, Satan is ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /38 the final warning.htm
Resources
Law vs. grace-why is there so much conflict among Christians on the issue? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Christians are not under the law? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)? | GotQuestions.orgLaw: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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