Ezekiel 13:1-7 - Beware of false prophets!

The people's trust in God had been eroded by the false prophets. Those in Jerusalem as well as those in exile in Babylon. They all had been negatively influenced by false prophets. The prophecies they were listening to were contrary to what God was saying through genuine prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Those false prophets were menacing the people and were a present danger to them. In chapter 13 and verses 1-2, God directed Ezekiel to address them. For the false prophets were prophesying from their own impulses because they had no knowledge of what was on God’s mind.

Pronouncing woe on them, God was virtually condemning them. Instead of strengthening the people, their prophecies were weakening them.  Judah was already on the brink of collapse and ruin, and their counsel did not help to remedy the situation. Instead of helping to repair the nation, they were exploiting the folly of the people. As jackals or foxes that spoil the vines, they were digging needless holes in the spiritual wall of the people to facilitate the nation’s collapse.

Verse 5 says that they “…have not gone up into the breaches or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord.” Whether spiritually or morally they were not building the people preparing them for the impending outcome. They did not point out their flaws nor call them to repentance. The false prophets had done nothing to build true faith in the Almighty.  They had failed to call the people back to the path of obedience. What the people needed and what the false prophets failed to do was to help them build the spiritual wall. For no physical wall could protect them. Only faith and trust in God could. As it was for them, so also it is for us.

They used terms that genuine prophets of God would use but for very different purpose. What they prophesied had no divine authority but only “lying divination.” They had the audacity to falsely claim that God was their source when clearly, He was not. There would be no chance of their prophecies coming to pass.

False prophets can also be found in our day. They are also out there claiming to be speaking for God but are not. Jesus Himself said that false prophets will arise and deceive God’s people. One of the best ways to guard against false prophets and their deceptive teachings is to know the truth. We need to heed Paul’s advice in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth”. We need to have a passion for God, a passion for excellence, and a passion for His Word.