Against False Prophets / Ezekiel 13:1-16
📖 Scripture
1 The word of the Lord came to me:
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!
3 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
4 Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins.
5 You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord.
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.
7 Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?
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.
9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.
10 “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,
11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth.
12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”
13 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury.
14 I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord.
15 So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it,
16 those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’
📝 Scripture Summary
The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy against false prophets who follow their own spirits. They speak peace when there is no peace and spread lies. The Lord declares that He will bring wind, hailstones, and torrential rains to destroy their walls. The false prophets will face judgment: They will not be included in Israel’s assembly, nor will they enter the land.
📌 Memory Verse
“Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!’”
– Ezekiel 14:6
💡 Reflection
False Leaders (13:1–9)
God proclaims His judgment against the false prophets who are prophesying out of their own imagination and spreading lies about what they claim to have heard from God. Because they are leading the people astray, these false prophets will not have the opportunity to be in any leadership position, to be listed in the records of Israel, or even to enter the land of Israel. Sometimes we encounter individuals who appear to be impressive leaders. However, their charisma and smooth words may actually be leading people away from God. Such individuals will face the consequences of their actions. Let us pray that our spiritual leaders would be led by God’s Spirit alone, and that we would be quick to recognize anyone who is not.
Who are the influential leaders in your life? How is God leading you to pray for them?
The Danger of Pleasant Lies (13:10–16)
The false prophets promise peace rather than God’s impending wrath. They whitewash the truth, covering it up with nicer words so that they can manipulate others into listening to them. Their false words encourage the people to continue in their sin with a deluded sense of security about their future. Positive words may be pleasant to hear, but when they cover up the truth, they divert the hearer from the warning they need to heed. May we surround ourselves with people who speak the truth rather than people who allow us to continue in sin under the delusion that we are at peace. Let us also lovingly speak the truth to others, confronting those who are straying from God’s path.
Consider someone in your life who may be straying from God’s path. How can you lovingly speak the truth and encourage them back toward Him?
🙏 Prayer
Dear Lord, You are the truth and the life. Help me to discern the truth and not be swayed by those who are not led by Your Spirit. May I be unafraid to speak the truth in love, especially to those who are straying from Your path. In Your name I pray, amen.
📖 Essay
Trustworthy Leaders
Among the influential leaders in my life are a couple who minister at my church. After serving youth and homeless ministries for twenty years, the husband felt the calling to pursue biblical scholarship. He and his wife prayed and spoke to other leaders, and after agreeing that this new direction seemed to be what God intended for them, they moved their family to another country so that the husband could pursue a PhD in biblical studies.
I was impressed that this couple was not content to live a “comfortable life” but pursued God wholeheartedly, remaining open to however He might lead them. The husband knew that he would be older than many of his peers, but he humbly and earnestly pursued his studies. The wife knew that she would need to work and care for their children in a country where they had never lived before, but she cheerfully and eagerly did whatever was necessary for the sake of the gospel.
I am grateful that we ended up living in the same town and attending the same church because this couple has demonstrated so much hospitality, wisdom, and love. They invited me over to their home for meals, they patiently listened and offered sound advice, and they modeled Christ-like character in their leadership at church as they preached, led small groups, and prayed for others. I am thankful to have such leaders in my life because I trust that they will speak the truth, especially when I need to hear it.
Written by Ahreum Kim
💬 Today’s Inspiration
“It’s beautiful to see God’s people honoring, loving, and learning from one another as we all labor together in the body of Christ.” – Jamie Voss