UNROLL
Late afternoon in a narrow lane of ancient Jerusalem: a low wall of loose fieldstones freshly slapped with bright white plaster, fine cracks already running through it, and a dark storm cloud building over the flat roofs.

False hopes

Ezekiel 13

Who tells you only what you want to hear?

23 verses≈ 5 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–3Visions of gloryBy the Kebar, about 593 BC: the throne, the scroll, the watchman
  2. 4–7Signs of the siegeA brick, a ration, a razor: the end has come
  3. 8–11The glory departsAbout 592 BC: the temple’s abominations, the mark, the glory goes east
  4. 12–15False hopesExile acted out, false prophets, a useless vineChapter 13
  5. 16–19Parables and lamentsAn unfaithful bride, two eagles, the one who sins
  6. 20–24The sword drawnRebellion retold; the siege begins, about 588 BC
  7. 25–32The nations judgedAmmon to Egypt: the LORD is Judge of all the earth
  8. 33–36A new heartThe city falls; the Good Shepherd; cleansed and made new
  9. 37–39Dry bones liveOne people raised up, and Gog of Magog defeated
  10. 40–48The LORD is thereAbout 573 BC: the new temple, the river, the land

Reproof of False Prophets

God

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD!

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God

This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing.

God
Early gray light on the empty temple height of ruined Jerusalem: two red foxes trotting across grass and fallen cut stones, the broken city below.

Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins.

God
God

You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand in the battle on the Day of the LORD.

God

They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.

God

Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?

God

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.

God
God

My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.

Question

Quick question

Look back at how the LORD describes these prophets.

Where did the false prophets get their messages?

God
Close on a flimsy wall of loose stacked fieldstones covered in dripping white lime plaster that hides the gaps, a wooden bucket of limewash and a palm-fiber brush on the ground, a dark storm sky beyond.

Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built, tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall.

God

Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth.

God

Surely when the wall has fallen, you will not be asked, ‘Where is the whitewash with which you covered it?’

God
God

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: In My wrath I will release a windstorm, and in My anger torrents of rain and hail will fall with destructive fury.

God

I will tear down the wall you whitewashed and level it to the ground, so that its foundation is exposed. The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

God
After the storm in an ancient lane: only the bare foundation course of a wall left in wet mud, its stones tumbled, flakes of white plaster floating in puddles, the sky clearing pale.

And after I have vented My wrath against the wall and against those who whitewashed it, I will say to you: ‘The wall is gone, and so are those who whitewashed it— those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw a vision of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD.’

0:18

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Pray

Lord, I would rather hear the truth that saves than the peace that lies. Keep me from whitewashing what You call broken, and build me on Your word. Amen.

The wall and the storm

Their ownimagination13:2–3: seen nothingFoxes in theruins13:4–5: no one mendsthe gaps‘Peace’13:10: when there isno peaceWhitewash13:10–12: a flimsywallThe storm13:13–14: thefoundation bareThe wall isgone13:15–16: and itsplasterers

Whiteboard

Comfort that ignores God’s word looks fine until the storm.

Reproof of False Prophetesses

God

Now, O son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls.

God
Close by lamplight on a low wooden table: small knotted bands of colored cloth tied with cords and beads in a loose heap, folded dark veils of different lengths beside them, a clay oil lamp.

Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own?

God
God

You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.

God
Early morning in reed beds by a canal: a fowler’s cord net torn wide open on its pegs, and a flock of small brown birds bursting up out of it into the pale sky, unhurt.

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: See, I am against the magic charms with which you ensnare souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. So I will free the souls you have ensnared like birds.

God

I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hands, so that they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

God

Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination.

God

I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

Ezekiel 13:23

You’ve experienced

Ezekiel 13

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A verse to carry with you

I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 13:23

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