Ezekiel 13:2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’”
Commentary helped tremendously my understanding of this chapter. I thought at first it was talking about this idea of speaking or praying things into existence. In this instance, the false prophets are not trying to speak things into existence (salvation), they are prophesying that God will deliver His people and there is no need to be afraid—that the people don’t need to do anything differently and God will still save them.
Ezekiel 13:3 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish a prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!’”
The issue here, and it took commentary to help me understand it, is that God has had both Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesy that this judgement is FROM God and that the people must prepare, repent, and return to restore that relationship. The false prophets are saying, “Don’t worry. Judgement won’t happen.” while the true prophets are saying, “Prepare yourselves because God’s judgement is imminent and it is because of your actions and attitudes.”
Ezekiel 13:6 “‘Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words.’”
Lord, Thank You for allowing me to see Your compassion in this chapter. It is only because You want Your people to understand the need to repent in order to return that You speak against the false prophets and their false hope. The hope is in You, in returning to You. That’s the message that must be understood. Thank You for Your fierce love. Amen.
Ezekiel 13:8 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
Have a blessed day. I love you.