Judgment of Wicked Counselors

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 11:1-13

 

Ezekiel 11:1-2

The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the Lord, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty-five men. And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. ² And he said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city.

(ESV)

 

We appear to be living in the time foretold by Paul to Timothy, a time when people turn away from listening to the truth of the Word of God and instead seek teachers suiting their own passions (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The Church is full of Jaazaniahs and Pelatiahs who condone iniquity by not teaching the consequences of sin and instead preach a theology of cheap grace that allows individuals to continue living in sin. As watchmen in the Church, those believing that all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and that we are not to continue living in sin but live transformed lives (Romans 6:1-4, 12:1-2) must speak out.

 

The Spirit of God lifts Ezekiel up and brings him to the east gate of the house of the Lord where he sees twenty-five men. Among the twenty-five men are Jaazaniah and Pelatiah who are princes of the people (Ezekiel 11:1). The Lord then tells Ezekiel that Jaazaniah and Pelatiah are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in Jerusalem telling the people the time is not near and+ to build houses (Ezekiel 11:2-3). The Lord then tells Ezekiel to prophesy (Ezekiel 11:4).

 

Then the Spirit of the Lord fell on Ezekiel telling him to remind Jaazaniah and Pelatiah that the Lord knows the things that come into their minds (Ezekiel 11:5). Jaazaniah and Pelatiah have devised iniquity and given wicked counsel that has filled the streets of Jerusalem with the slain, turning the city into a cauldron, but the Lord shall remove Jaazaniah and Pelatiah from it (Ezekiel 11:6-7). Jaazaniah and Pelatiah have feared the sword and now the sword will come upon them declares the Lord (Ezekiel 11:8). The Lord will take them out of the city and give them into the hands of foreigners, executing judgments upon them (Ezekiel 11:9). Jaazaniah and Pelatiah will fall by the sword, be judged at the border of Israel, and know that the Lord is the Lord (Ezekiel 11:10). Jerusalem will not be a cauldron to Jaazaniah and Pelatiah with them judged at the border of Israel (Ezekiel 11:11). God wants these men to know that He is the Lord and that they have not walked in the Lord’s statutes or obeyed His rules and instead have acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around Israel (Ezekiel 11:12). However, while Ezekiel is prophesying, Pelatiah dies leading to Ezekiel falling on his face, asking if the Lord God intends to eliminate the remnant of Israel (Ezekiel 11:13).

 

Jaazaniah and Pelatiah are the wicked counselors who have devised iniquity and provided wicked counsel in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 11:2-3). Their wicked counsel provides false security for the people of Jerusalem, allowing them to continue in their iniquity without fear of any consequences. As a watchman, Ezekiel must prophesy against them as instructed by the Lord (Ezekiel 11:4). These men fear the sword and will have the sword brought upon them but not in Jerusalem and instead at the hands of foreigners (Ezekiel 11:8-10). However, Pelatiah dies while Ezekiel is prophesying, leading Ezekiel to fall on his face and cry out asking if God will make a full end of the remnant of Israel (Ezekiel 11:13).

 

Woe to Church leaders who teach that the grace of God covers all iniquity so one can have security in their salvation while continuing to live in sin. The Apostle Paul spoke out against such an abuse of grace, asking why one who has died to sin would continue to live in sin (Romans 6:1-4). Like the false comfort given to Israel by Jaazaniah and Pelatiah, telling the people to go ahead and build houses because the time of God’s judgment on them was not near, not warning believers about sin in their lives provides a false sense of hope. While it is true that the grace of God saves us (Ephesians 2:8-9), the Bible also tells us not to conform to the world but to experience transformation in our lives through the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2).

 

Like Ezekiel who had the calling of a watchman carrying the responsibility to warn people of the consequences of sin in their lives (Ezekiel 3:16-21), Church leaders are the watchman of their congregations and must warn people of the consequences of continuing in sin. Since all in their congregations have sinned (Romans 3:23), it is a dereliction of duty for them to fail to mention sin from the pulpit out of fear of offending someone. I urge all Church leaders not to be like Jaazaniah or Pelatiah and give their congregants false hope by abusing God’s grace and instead, declare the truth of God’s word that leads to a closer relationship with God in their lives. If you are reading this and have not prayed to enter into a personal relationship with God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.