Responses to Preaching

Aim: To be transformed by God's grace, in the hearing of the preached word.

Doctrine: My response to preaching portends my life or my death. Though everyone is stung by the preached word, those only who fear its author (God) are blessed.

Exegesis: Three representative responses to the preached word: threats of judgment lead to repentance (vv. 17-19), hardness (vv. 20-23), or frustration (v. 24).

Further application: The miraculous way to respond to the word: with humility—charging myself with sin; and with faith—believing God to be merciful enough to love (even) me.

Key verse: v. 19 ''Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah ever put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and seek the LORD's favor? And the LORD relented concerning the doom which He had pronounced against them. But we are doing great evil against ourselves.''