False Prophets Condemned

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 13

 

Ezekiel 13:22-23

Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life, ²³ therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. And you shall know that I am the Lord.”

(ESV)

 

Today is the beginning of a new year, a time with many hoping for a better life for themselves, their families, and friends. However, we also face the reality that we will have the same problems tomorrow as we have today but with the start of the new year, we can face these problems with a renewed optimism of finding a solution. At the end of this post, I will give everyone reading this the opportunity to begin the new year with a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ or a renewal of a relationship with God that has grown cold. In the text of this post, we observe the Prophet Ezekiel calling out those who do not prophesy the truth but instead tell people what they want to hear, hiding the truth from them. As we begin this new year, I trust everyone reading this will pursue truth and avoid falsehood and deception in the coming year.

 

The prophet Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord telling him to prophesy against the so-called prophets of Israel who profess to have a word from the Lord but prophesy from their own hearts (Ezekiel 13:1-2). The Lord issues a warning to these foolish prophets who follow their own spirit but have not seen anything, comparing these prophets to jackals among ruins (Ezekiel 13:3-4). Because of these false prophecies, the breaches in the wall of the city remain so the wall cannot withstand an attack (Ezekiel 13:5). These false prophets say their words are from the Lord but the Lord has not sent them so they just hope what they will say comes to pass (Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Ezekiel 13:6). A prophet is a false prophet uttering lies when he professes to speak for the Lord when the Lord has not spoken to him (Ezekiel 13:7).

 

The Lord has a stern warning for these false prophets uttering lies, letting them know He is against them, with their names not in the register of the house of Israel, and that they will not enter the land of Israel (Ezekiel 13:8-9). These prophets mislead the people with their lies, keeping them from repairing the wall and instead covering the breaches in the wall with whitewash (Ezekiel 13:10). Ezekiel must tell these lying prophets the whitewashed wall will fall from a deluge of rain, great hailstones, and a stormy wind (Ezekiel 13:11). When the wall falls, people will ask what happened to the whitewash you smeared to cover the wall (Ezekiel 13:12). The Lord God will breakdown the whitewashed wall with the rain of his anger, the wind of his wrath, and hailstones of wrath bringing the wall to a total end so the people will know the Lord is the Lord (Ezekiel 13:13-14). God’s wrath targets the wall and the false prophets who smeared it with whitewash, declaring peace for Israel when there would be no peace (Ezekiel 13:15-16).

 

Ezekiel is to be against the daughters of Israel who prophesy from their own hearts (Ezekiel 13:17). He is to warn the women sewing magic bands upon all wrists and making veils for the heads of every stature who hunt for the souls of God’s people and keep their own souls alive (Ezekiel 13:18). Ezekiel then calls out the prophets for profaning the Lord for barley and bread and for putting to death souls that should not die while preserving souls that should not live, through their lies (Ezekiel 13:19).

 

The Lord intends to break off the magic bands and tear off the veils of the false prophets so the souls of God’s people are no longer their prey so they will know the Lord is the Lord (Ezekiel 13:20-21). The false prophets have disheartened the righteous and encouraged the wicked, keeping the wicked from turning from their evil ways (Ezekiel 13:22). The false prophets will no longer see false visions or practice divination and the Lord will deliver His people from their hands so they will know the Lord is the Lord (Ezekiel 13:23).

 

The words of false prophets have left Jerusalem defenseless. Words from prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah have repeatedly warned Jerusalem of a coming attack from the north (Ezekiel 23:24; Jeremiah 4:6,6:1). Instead of heeding these warnings from the Lord and making repairs to the breaches in the walls, Jerusalem has listened to false prophets telling them that all is well and there will be no attack. Instead of repairing the wall, they have cosmetically smeared it with whitewash, not unlike the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ time (Matthew 23:27). Ezekiel’s word from the Lord declares that the whitewashed wall will fall, with the people left unprotected.

 

When the Church does not take a stand against sin and evil, it does not tell people of the dangerous consequences of sin, leaving people ignorant of the dangerous consequence of sin which is death (Romans 6:23). Those called to minister the Gospel must choose whether they will speak truth or from their own desire to please the congregation by telling them what they want to hear so they keep coming to Church and giving money. God’s word is a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) that cuts to one’s heart, revealing sin in their lives for which they must repent and seek forgiveness.

 

The pastor or shepherd of the flock must not give into the temptation of pleasing the flock and not offending them and fulfill his or her role as guardian of the sheep by offending them with the truth if necessary. Even Jesus did not come the first time to bring peace but division (Luke 12:51). A minister of the Gospel must be courageous like Ezekiel and declare the truth of God’s word even if the people ministered to do not accept it. The truth is that all have sinned and need a savior (Romans 3:23), but if the congregation of the people never hears of sin, how will they know their need for a savior? Anyone reading this who has not prayed to accept Jesus as their savior and for forgiveness from sin is encouraged 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.

 

I pray that God will challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post in the coming year.