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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Ezekiel Chapter 13

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Ezekiel
Date Penned: (571 BC)
Overview: To Announce God's Judgement and Salvation (c 1-5)
Theme: Messages of Doom (c 1-24)
Message: Judgement Against False Prophets (v 1-28)


Ezekiel 13 Commentary

(13:1) False Prophets - This warning was directed against false prophets, whose messages were not from God but instead were lies intended to win popularity by saying whatever made the people happy. False prophets did not care about the truth as Ezekiel did. They lulled people into a false sense of security, making Ezekiel's job even more difficult. Do you sense that the society in which you live has lost a sense of truth? Have too many educators and politicians abandoned truth, choosing to be open to any ideas in order to gain favor with people? Beware of those who bend or ignore the truth in their quest for popularity or power. 

(13:2-3) Compromise - The false prophets had a large following because they comforted the people and approved of their sinful actions. Lies are often attractive, and liars may have large followings. Today, for example, some spiritual leaders assure us that God promises his followers health and material success. This may seem comforting, but is it true? God's own Son did not have an easy life on earth. Make sure the messages you believe and teach are consistent with what God says in his Word. 

(13:10-12) Lies - "Untempered mortar" is whitewash. These false prophets painted their lies (a "wall") with "whitewash"--a clean-looking and pleasing covering. Such superficiality doesn't hold up under God's scrutiny. He can always see what's underneath the surface, what's really in our hearts. Jesus chastised the religious leaders of his day for their deception and hypocrisy, calling them "whited sepulchres"--whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27). 

(13:17) Prophecy - In the Bible, we see the gift of prophecy given to women as well as men. Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:4), and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14) were considered prophetesses. But the women mentioned here are more like the medium of 1 Samuel 28:7, and they are condemned for prophesying from their own imaginations, thus discouraging the righteous and leading astray the vulnerable (Ezekiel 13:22). 

(13:18-22) Witchcraft - These magic charms and veils were used in practicing witchcraft. They were advertised as good luck charms, but they were used to ensnare the people in idolatry. Killing some and sparing ("save the souls alive") others (13:19) means falsely telling people what their futures would hold. Only God can know what will happen in the future. Today, fortune-telling, horoscopes, Ouija boards, and tarot cards open the door wide for Satan to influence and possess a person with false prophecies about the future. These things may appear innocent at first, but they are only enticing deceptions.

 


David Burnette's Life Application


False Prophets

 

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue the Book of Ezekiel with Chapter 13. In our text today we see judgment against false prophets as they come as foxes dressed in sheep's clothing with the intention of devouring the flock. In making application we see the false prophet around today telling people what they want to hear and gleaning from their pockets. Today more than ever people want their ears tickled with positive motivational speakers verses the true preached Word of God. How about you? Do you desire the words of the false prophet? Let us learn from our text today and warning of Ezekiel to realize that the false prophet is working today to deceive the flock with the goal of his personal gain verses preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus and the Bible.

 

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Ezekiel 13

Ezekiel 13

 1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

 2Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

 3Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

 4O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.

 5Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.

 6They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

 7Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

 8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.

 9And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

 10Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

 11Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.

 12Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?

 13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.

 14So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

 15Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;

 16To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

 17Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

 18And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?

 19And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

 20Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.

 21Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

 22Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

 23Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.