Jeremiah was a contemporary of Ezekiel. He said this of the false prophets with whom he had to contend.
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jeremiah 23:16).
Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel had to overcome the false words of professional prophets who had been exiled to Babylon in 597 BC. These prophets were likely employed by Jehoiachin and other leaders to predict the future. Their role was to provide the king with favorable messages that would reinforce and justify his actions.
The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying; say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: “Hear the word of the Lord!”
Thus says the Lord God: Alas for the senseless prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! (Ezekiel 13.1-3).
God gave Ezekiel three words of judgment against these professional prophets. First, they were prophesying from their own imagination. Second, they were foolish. And third, they had no true vision from God.
About 150 years before Ezekiel, Isaiah had a similar assessment of the professional prophets who served the king but did not serve God.
For fools speak folly,
and their minds plot iniquity:
to practice ungodliness,
to utter error concerning the Lord,
to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied,
and to deprive the thirsty of drink. (Isaiah 32.6)
Foolish prophets, who speak to serve the interests of the powerful, leave those hungry and thirsty for God’s justice still unsatisfied. A word that comes from human imagination, rather than from God’s direct counsel, offers no true nourishment.
Parasites
Anyone who has encountered a flea or tick understands the irritation a parasite can cause. Ticks, in particular, can transmit Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which are not just irritating but potentially deadly.
Similarly, the prophets who made their living by serving the king were seen as parasites by God, according to His word through Ezekiel. Ezekiel referred to them as “jackals.”
Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel.
You have not gone up into the breaches, or repaired a wall for the house of Israel, so that it might stand in battle on the day of the Lord (Ezekiel 13.4-5).
Rock walls were common in the rocky terrain of Israel. These stones were gathered to build small walls, designed to keep out invading animals. Instead of repairing the wall by placing fallen stones back in place, the false prophets acted like jackals, causing more harm than good.
Words that may sound pleasing and encouraging but are actually deceptive do not build anything up. Instead, they leave a broken wall unrepaired, giving the enemy easy access.
We are constantly bombarded with information, some of it from people who claim to speak the word of God. Based on what we’ve examined so far, it’s important to ask ourselves:
- Are these individuals prophesying from their own imagination, or do they have a genuine word from God?
- Do their minds plot iniquity, or do they practice godliness?
- Are they speaking error, or are they true messengers of God?
- Are these prophets like jackals among the ruins, doing more harm than good?
These are critical questions to consider as we listen to those who claim to speak for God or offer opinions they want us to adopt.
Lying Divination
It is very dangerous to claim to speak for God, especially when God has not sent us.
They have envisioned falsehood and lying divination. They say, “Says the Lord,” when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word!
Have you not seen a false vision or uttered a lying divination, when you have said, “Says the Lord,” even though I did not speak? (Ezekiel 13.6-7).
This is how we can discern whether a prophet has received their message from God.
“You may say to yourself, ‘How can we recognize a word that the Lord has not spoken?’ If a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord but the thing does not take place or prove true, it is a word that the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).
In addition to all of Ezekiel’s criticisms of these false professional prophets, he now points out that, although they claim to have heard a word from God, they are hoping their words will come true, uncertain if what they’ve spoken will ever actually happen.
Reflections:
As I read Ezekiel’s message to the false prophets, I have two personal reflections.
(1) I am always cautious not to attach “God told me” to any message I deliver. There have been times when I was tempted to say it, but thankfully I refrained, as it would have been untrue.
(2) In today’s climate, we must be discerning and ensure that anyone claiming to speak for God meets the qualifications outlined in Ezekiel. This discernment helps keep us aligned with God’s will.
A third important step is to take what we think and turn it into prayer. The Holy Spirit can refine our prayers and present them appropriately to God, ensuring that our discussions with God remain free from confusion or false motives.
YouTube Discussion:
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 