(4.) OF FALSE PROPHETS AND PROPHETESSES (Chap. 13)
Condemnation of the Prophets (Ezekiel 13:1-16)
EXEGETICAL NOTES.—The declaration in Ezekiel 12:24 was that unsubstantiated and delusive prophecy should cease by the fulfilment of the true, and in this chapter a description and denunciation of the former are given. The men and women who had taken upon themselves to announce “salvation without repentance, grace without judgment,” were found both in Judea and among the captive Jews. The utterance of Ezekiel is akin to that of Jeremiah (chap. 23.). Both indicate that the wishes of the people framed a mould for conclusions as to the will of the Lord. They made the prophets they believed in.
Ezekiel 13:1-7 describe the characteristics of the unauthorised prophets. Ezekiel 13:2. Ezekiel is enjoined to prophecy “to the prophets of Israel;” they had popular sympathy and acceptance. The spirit of the age approved of them, although they were “prophets out of their own hearts.” They might sincerely hold what they said as true, but their words were nothing except the products of their imaginations; anything but the communications of God. “Hear the word of the Lord.” That which they had not within they shall obtain from without, and to their shame. If false representations of God are powerful He will raise up a standard against them.
Ezekiel 13:3. They are threatened. “Woe to the prophets, fools,” not merely in going where they were not sent, but actually godless men (Psalms 14:1), and consequently “who walk after their own spirit, and that which they have not seen.” Not by the insight which the Lord gives (Revelation 1:2; Revelation 1:11, &c.) A twofold aspect of a revelation of God is presented. Its starting-point. It begins in an impression made on a man’s spirit, and is not originated by his own thoughts and fancies. Its goal. The statement of truth accordant with God’s justice and love. The light of the face of God, not the man’s inner light, is to satisfy the calls for guidance in right thoughts and ways. Christ, and not humanity, must be our test of truth.
Ezekiel 13:4. “As foxes among ruins thy prophets, O Israel, are.” Deserted places are a favourite resort of foxes. “Because of the mountain of Zion which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it” (Lamentations 5:18). And those who were counted messengers of the Lord found their sphere of profit in the omens of the desolation of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 13:5. Israel by sins had become exposed to the assaults of divine penalties; but its favoured prophets had acted like unpatriotic cowards in the crisis of danger. “Ye have not gone up into the breaches, nor made up a wall about the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.” The moral and spiritual evils of the people were as gaps in the wall of Jerusalem; but the prophets had done nothing by reproof and personal conduct to urge to repentance and reformation. They had nothing of that self-humiliation and intercession for the guilty which was manifested by Abraham (Genesis 18:23-33), Moses (Exodus 32:11-13), Paul (Romans 9:3).
Ezekiel 13:6. All pseudo-prophets might not be deceiving, but though “the Lord had not sent them,” yet “they hoped to establish the word,” i.e., they tried to persuade the people that the unsupported promises made to them would be fully realised, with this result alone, that the falsity would be all the more painfully brought home.
Ezekiel 13:8-16. Announce the consequences of prophesying without divine impulse. Ezekiel 13:8 states that the Lord is against the prophets; and Ezekiel 13:9 intimates three calamities which shall befall them in relation to the new theocratic regime. They shall neither be numbered “in the council of my people,” they will not be members of the influential and ruling circle; nor “be written in the register of the house of Israel,” they will not be struck out of that roll which has given them a name and place among the citizens of Israel, but they will not be entered into the roll of the Israel which shall arise from the faithful remnant; and the portion which is in exile “shall not come into the land of Israel” (Ezekiel 13:10). The erring prophets had brought condemnation upon themselves, and produced such a state that “it,” the people, “built a wall, and behold, they,” the prophets, “coat it with plaster” (or whitewash, Fair., who refers to Paul’s indignant charge on the high priest, “Thou whited wall!” Acts 23:3); ministering to the deceptive hopes of the people instead of exposing their worthlessness. The deluding of the prophets would not last (Ezekiel 13:11). “It,” the wall, daubed “with whited plaster, shall fall” by means of agencies controlled by God the Lord: the “rain,” “hail-stones,” and “storm,” which should be launched against it. Ezekiel 13:14 applies the figure to the reality, and threatens the destruction of those who believed a lie. “I cast it to the ground, and its foundation is laid bare and it falls, and ye are consumed in the midst of it,” i.e. of Jerusalem (comp. Matthew 7:24-27). Ezekiel 13:15. Both deceived and deceivers would be overwhelmed: “And I will say unto you, The wall is not, and they who coated it are not.” Ezekiel 13:16. Ezekiel rounds off this portion of his utterance with a thrust at “the prophets of Israel” who affirmed that they saw “a vision of peace for her,” Jerusalem, “and there is no peace.”
HOMILETICS
MISLEADING HOPES OF FREEDOM FROM FUTURE EVILS
The Jews entertained delusive hopes regarding the future welfare of their city and land, and observation proves that, where the Gospel is preached in town or country, many hearers indulge in ungrounded trust as to their escape from the judgment of God against their doings. The reasons which are at work to produce this mistake are similar in the present age to those which operated in the past. They are—
I. Slighting notions as to the evil of sin. People may neglect to follow a prescribed course of obedience, or may openly take the course which cuts across it; but they are not humbled for so doing. They make up excuses. “I am not like this publican.” “I have a good heart.” “I have not done things worthy to suffer destruction.” At the base of all wrong thoughts, at the base of all erroneous teachings as to man’s position before God, lies a misconception of the guilt of secret or presumptuous sins. All unrighteousness is sin and a gap through which unknown penalty rushes on the guilty.
II. Listening to one’s own wishes. We do not wish to count ourselves really “miserable sinners,” or to look at the signs which show that we are moving down the hellward slopes of sin; so we evade the accusations which the true and faithful witness brings against us. His voice is not heard, or, if we cannot ignore it, we easily suppose that its warnings must be meant for others, not for us. How needful to arm ourselves with the mind which will ask, Am I regulating my convictions by what I wish or by what the Lord wishes? Are the teachings to which I listen such as I like to have, or are they based upon the truth and holiness of God?
III. Influenced by misguiding teachers. This influence is exerted by self originated doctrines. They speak from their own heart. They propound and defend opinions grounded on their views of things, and not on the reality. They can evolve worlds, form conscience, do away with all necessity of a living God. They promise smooth things to a people who have a form of godliness. They hide the present damnation of sin under statements which excuse defective and immoral conduct, and its future under explanations which impugn eternal justice. By plausible help. They covered over ugly and dangerous inlets of evil, and they seemed safe; but the covering was of too flimsy a kind. It did not show lives lived differently from those of the transgressors. It did not indicate effectual prayer for the people. It did not denounce sin and warn of its impending punishment: or it did so in such general terms that none are convinced that they are the evildoers who are doomed to the overwhelming wrath of Him before whom evil cannot stand. By their professed authorisation. They prophesied in the name of the Lord though He knew them not. They had so far regard to God as to believe that they ought to say only what He commanded. They may speak what they think; sincerely suppose that they have right on their side; but they are deceived. They see that which might be perceived to be a lie, thus they buoy up their hearers with false hopes and do untold harm to bodies and souls by their errors.
“Some teach men to expect safety from a comparative decency of moral character; some on account of formal and superstitious observances; some because they belong to an orthodox part of the Church and have got some notions of certain important doctrines; some because of their impressions and enthusiastic reveries; and others even by a direct abuse of the gospel and making Christ the minister of sin.… All are alike distant from Christ the true foundation: they build not on Him by a penitent faith that worketh by love, and produceth obedience; they either leave out His merits and atonement, or the work of His new-creating Spirit, or the substantial fruits of righteousness; and in different ways endeavour to varnish, paint and repair the old building, instead of erecting a new one on a new foundation, for ‘an habitation of God through the Spirit.’ ”—W. F.
1. Judgment will come notwithstanding hopes of escaping it. Nothing of man can avail to resist it. The daubed wall shall fall and overwhelm misleaders and misled.
2. Beware lest thou flatter with a trust to hopes of safety which are not drawn from God’s will revealed in Christ. Thou hast the knowledge given of Him. Be true and faithful to Him only.