Read Ezekiel
13-15 & Hebrews
11:20-40
To discover:
As you read note the traits
in those who are false prophets.
To ponder:
Ezekiel is now to
speak against false prophets that are in exile with him. They are those who
prophesy from their own imagination and spirit, rather than God’s Spirit. So
Ezekiel is to condemn them as foolish, and like jackals among ruins – ie.
seeking prey to devour, when they should be metaphorically repairing the breaks
in the walls – ie. strengthening crumbling faith so the people will stand firm.
God is adamant that despite the fact they actually expect their words to be
fulfilled, he has not sent them and they have seen nothing from him, so their
visions and divinations (future-telling) are false (13v1-7). It’s a stark
reminder of how easily people can assume what they feel in their spirit is from
God’s Spirit, and actually be convinced it is a word from God – whether
expressed as a prophecy or sermon. A key question to ask those who claim to
have a message from God is therefore what makes them think it is genuinely from
him. With prophecy, one would at least expect an undeniable clarity and potency
of vision; with a sermon, that it is true to scripture.
Because of these false visions, God
declares he is against these prophets, stating they will no longer be included
in the inner circle of Israel, nor have the rights of those listed as true
Israelites, nor return to the land when the time comes. As previously, he says
that the fulfilment of this word will show them that he is the Sovereign Lord
(13v8-9). The way the LORD says these prophets lead the people astray is in
declaring “peace” where there is none. So they erect a flimsy wall of false
hope that they whitewash – covering over the harsh realities of Israel ’s
situation. 13v16 implies they were sending messages to Jerusalem ,
no doubt proclaiming it would not fall. To this, God declares he will unleash
his anger in such a way that their wall of false hope will fall and the
prophets be destroyed, yet knowing he is the LORD (13v10-16). In our day such
false assurance comes from those within the church who trivialise sin and scoff
at the idea of judgement or the wrath of God.
Ezekiel is also to prophesy against
the prophetesses who ensnare people to their lies through feigned magic, just
so they can receive a little more food. It’s a fitting description of how
fortune tellers and the like still ensnare. It seems these women killed those
who shouldn’t have died in the sense that they encouraged the wicked not to
turn from their ways, so that they would die when they would otherwise have lived.
Sparing those who should not live may therefore refer to them declaring that
the wicked deserved life, even though they didn’t. Whatever the case, they
disheartened the righteous in this by giving no encouragement to them for their
uprightness. God declares he is against these women, will free the people from
them, and cause them no longer to carry on their practices. Then they too will
know the LORD (13v17-23). It is unclear whether these false prophets actually
saw false visions. In the wider context it seems more likely this is just a way
of describing them speaking the impressions of their own imaginations and
spirits.
When some elders came to enquire of
God through Ezekiel, God’s word then came telling him they were worshipping
idols (the stumbling block before their faces) that would lead them into sin.
God implies they should not be allowed to enquire of him and declares he will
answer them in keeping with their idolatry in order to recapture their hearts.
This is God’s intent in rebuking us for our sin. And so he calls them to
repent, stating he will not answer them whilst they commit idolatry, but cut
them off (ie. cause their death) – saying the people will then know he is the
LORD. He adds that if the prophet the idolater enquires of does respond, this
will be because God has enticed them, no doubt to bring ruin to the enquirer.
But as the prophet is speaking his own ideas rather than a message God had
actually given, he will be counted guilty and destroyed. God promises that
through all this the people will cease their straying and so be his people with
him as their God (14v1-11). The point is that the people will be refined as
some repent and those who don’t are destroyed.
In what follows God states that when
he acts in judgement against a sinful country with famine, wild beasts, sword
and plague, even the most righteous, like Noah, Daniel or Job, would be able to
save only themselves and not the country itself. So, God says, how much worse
will it be for Jerusalem in facing
these four things. Nevertheless, he promises that some will survive and join
those already in exile. The sense is that when those with Ezekiel witness the
evil actions of these survivors, they will be consoled about the destruction of
Jerusalem , seeing how right and
just it was (14v12-23). The section stresses that no matter how terrible God’s
judgement may seem to us, it is right. How much we need to hold to this with
respect to hell. No doubt in glory we will be consoled in recognizing that God
has not condemned people there without cause. We also learn here that at times
God does bring disaster on the nations of the world in judgement for their sin.
As the righteous do not always escape, 14v14 must simply mean that if they were
to be saved (as Lot from Sodom ),
they could only save themselves.
Chapter 15 stresses that the wood of
a vine is not even as good as other wood, as nothing useful is made of it. And
it is even more useless when burned. So just as God has given vine wood to be
used in fire, although the people of Jerusalem
have come out of one fire, in surviving previous threats, fire will still
consume them in the coming destruction. Again, God says, they will know he is
the LORD, as when all that God predicts comes to pass.
Praying
it home:
Praise God that he
has revealed his word clearly for us in scripture. Pray that those who confess
faith but love things more than God, would repent and give their hearts to him.
Thinking
further:
None
today.
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