Ezekiel 33 opens with the well-known section about the serious responsibility of a watchman.

So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 33.7 – 9, ESV)

It’s tough to warn people because they don’t listen. The chapter ends with precisely that fact:

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.” 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…And behold, you are to them like one who sings songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. (Ezekiel 33.30 – 32, ESV)

Chilling. Preaching as entertainment. “You are like one who sings…and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.”

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1.22, NIV)