One who sings lustful songs; Meditations from Ezekiel 33:30-33

30 “As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ 31 And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. 32 And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. 33 When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

What sort of encouragement could come from a passage like this? Well, God tells me that there will be a group of people that will reject his message.

1) They are rejecting God, so vast an offense, that any rejection of this messenger is very small indeed.
2) God is aware and empathetic to rejection.
3) Ultimately, rejection of God is as simple as not doing what you are told to do: disobedience.
4) We should expect rejection. To say it negatively, rejection is not something that should surprise the messenger of God.
5) Respectful listening and correct identification are not synonymous with acceptance of God's message. Rather complete obedience is required.

What are we to do with this description of the faithful minister whose message is rejected? He is compared to one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument.

Notice, people rejecting the message associate the messenger with ENTHUSIASM (ie. lustful songs) and EXCELLENCE (ie. a beautiful voice and skillful instrument playing). May this be said of me! This is to show them that a prophet has been among them.