July 11, 2011
WHICH SPIRIT DO YOU FOLLOW?
Ezekiel 13
Jessica Davis
Central Truth
Scripture tells us to watch out for false prophets and false teachers, but we must be sure we don't fall into the trap of acting as one ourselves. Use God's Word to teach, rebuke, correct, and train ourselves and others in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Key Verse | Ezekiel 13:3
"Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing.'" (Ezekiel 13:3)
Ezekiel 13
False Prophets Condemned
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’ 3 Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. 5 You 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. 6 They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. 7 Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the LORD,’ although I have not spoken?”
8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God. 10 Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, 1 13:10 Or plaster; also verses 11, 14, 15 11 say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. 12 And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the coating with which you smeared it?’ 13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end. 14 And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD. 15 Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, 16 the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the Lord God.
17 And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own hearts. Prophesy against them 18 and say, Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to my people and keep your own souls alive? 19 You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies.
20 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against your magic bands with which you hunt the souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free, the souls like birds. 21 Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey, and you shall know that I am the LORD. 22 Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life, 23 therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. And you shall know that I am the LORD.”
Dive Deeper | Ezekiel 13
We see Scripture warning us of false prophets over and over again (Matthew 7:15, 24:24, Mark 13:22, Luke 6:26, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1), but have you ever considered that you can act as a false prophet or false teacher yourself? As I reread this chapter, I began to understand that even I can be tempted to act as a false prophet (or false teacher) myself when I lean on my own understanding and do not trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Our English word prophet comes from the Greek word meaning "to announce." A prophet would act as an ambassador for the Lord God, declaring His message to all.
In Ezekiel 13 the false prophets told the people only what they wanted to hear, and their message was not of the Lord. As a result, they had a skewed view of God that diminished the severity of their sin. Galatians 1:6-7 says, "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ." Don't let yourself be the one who confuses others concerning the gospel by following your own spirit. Instead, speak only from the Word of God.
Have you ever found yourself giving advice or guidance based on your own knowledge and experiences instead of what Scripture tells us? Well, I certainly have. In those moments I am robbing God of His glory, and I am doing an injustice to the person in need. Proverbs 27:6 reminds us: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."
We are to live out Joshua 1:8: "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
When we depart from God's Word in matters that it addresses, we are doing ourselves and others a disservice and acting as false teachers ourselves.
Discussion Questions
1. When a friend gives you counsel, would you prefer that it comes from God's Word or their own knowledge?
2. When asked to give help or advice to someone else, are you yielding to the Spirit of the Lord in your response? If so, how do you do this?
3. Do you ever find yourself confusing others with your opinions and thoughts instead of trusting in the truth of the gospel alone? How can you avoid this?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
EZEKIEL 13-17 (JULY 11-15)
Read Ezekiel 14:1-6.
What did the leaders set up in their hearts? What does it mean to "set up an idol in your heart"? What are idols that you have set up in your heart or are tempted to set up in your heart?
These idols had become stumbling blocks that led the Israelite leaders into sin. How could the idols you struggle with lead you into sin? (Remember, sin is disobedience to God and His ways.)
Read Exodus 20:3-6.
What is God's commandment to the Israelites? Do you believe this applies to us now?
What does Ezekiel 14:6 tell us to do if we have put something before God? Take time and ask God for His forgiveness if there are things you have set up as idols in your heart before Him.
ACTIVITY: Identify one thing in your life that you are tempted to put before God. It could be things like sports, grades, schedule, working out, control, or money. Once you have identified something, find an object that represents that struggle (e.g., a soccer ball for sports or a calendar for your schedule). Then write Matthew 22:37 across your object and put it somewhere that you will see it every day, reminding you to put God FIRST in your heart.