False Prophets Condemned
June 13, 2022
Commentary
In this passage warning was directed against false prophets whose messages were not from God, but were intended to win popularity by saying whatever the people wanted to hear. The character, method and judgement of these false prophets is revealed in this portion of Scripture. Satan has his counterfeit prophets today, as one group is described above. They are described as those who speak after the wisdom of men and have seen false revelations due to their closeness to the god of this world, who works in the hearts of the disobedient. In fact, there are times when even they themselves are deceived, thinking their message is from God.
God’s view of the false prophet is given (vv. 2-9). Man’s ways are opposed to God’s ways and are thus in error. He is also foolish, because he has not seen a vision or revelation from God. When they should have been building a strong social and moral house in Israel they were in direct contact with Satan and his host. This occult was so real to them that they thought their message was from God.
God says these false prophets are like the foxes in the deserts, who only destroy (v. 4). We have a saying that some people are as sly as a fox and this is true of false prophets. It is amazing how groups will form and follow the leadership of these false prophets, even to the point of death. An example of this was the group of over 900 people who followed Jim Jones to Jonestown, Guyana in 1978. They followed his instruction as they all drank poison kool aid and died. The characteristics of these kind of leaders are described as vanity and lying with a vision that is vain (vv. 6-9).
Application
I need to be very careful about people who bend the truth in their quest for popularity and power.
Ezekiel 13:1– 9 (NET)
1 Then the Lord’s message came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to the prophets who prophesy from their imagination: ‘Listen to the Lord’s message! 3 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit but have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets have become like jackals among the ruins, O Israel. 5 You have not gone up in the breaks in the wall, nor repaired a wall for the house of Israel that it would stand strong in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 They see delusion and their omens are a lie. They say, “The Lord declares,” though the Lord has not sent them; yet they expect their word to be confirmed. 7 Have you not seen a false vision and announced a lying omen when you say, “The Lord declares,” although I myself never spoke?
8 “‘Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have spoken false words and forecast delusion, look, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who see delusion and announce lying omens. They will not be included in the council of my people, nor be written in the registry of the house of Israel, nor enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.