| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| @September 2, 2023 | ESV (2016) | ESV Prophets Plan 2023 |
Pericopes
- False Prophets Condemned
Notes
The chapter opens with God telling Ezekiel to prophesy against the false prophets of Israel. Through following their own spirit, they had actually seen nothing. They had not brought strength to the house of Israel “that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD”. (Ezek. 13:5). They spoke falsely and yet had the gall to expect God to fulfill it.
In Ezek. 13:8-16, God declares that He is against these false prophets. There will be 3 consequences for their actions. They will not: 1) be in the peoples’ council, 2) enrolled in the register in the house of Israel, 3) enter into the land of Israel (Ezek. 13:9). The false, whitewashed wall (one daubed with untempered mortar) that they had built to prevent divine judgment will fall (Ezek. 13:10). It will not be able to withstand the coming wind and hail (Ezek. 13:11), being broken down to its foundation and their death will accompany its fall (Ezek. 13:14).
In the remaining verses, (Ezek. 13:17-23), God through Ezekiel addresses the false prophetesses. They had been practicing witchcraft, putting charms on peoples’ wrists and veils on their heads (Ezek. 13:18). They doomed some people to death by magic spells and kept others alive (Ezek. 13:19). Because they had disheartened the righteous and encouraged the wicked (Ezek. 13:22), God would destroy them and deliver His people.
Application
Ezekiel addresses the false prophets; both male and female specifically. Their conduct was comprehensively deplorable; not only falsely leading the people but doing so for unjust gain. It was in their blatant misrepresentation of Him that God would bring destruction upon them and reverse the effects of their actions.
In a way, this points strongly to the need for authenticity in our walk with the Lord. When we make claims about our God, it had better come from an intimate understanding of Him. While we may not have the same motives as these false prophets, even well-intended words will fail to yield a healthy outcome unless rooted in God’s Word and the principles contained within. This should be an encouragement for us to be so saturated in His Word that we are able to represent Him faithfully, to walk and to speak confidently about His will and character.
Scripture Journal Notes
Commentaries & Resources Used
- ESV Study Bible. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)
- Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (Guardian Press, 1976)
- The Bible: A Reader’s Guide (Sterling Publishing, 2011)
- The Infographic Bible (Zondervan, 2018)
- ESV Digital Scripture Journal (Crossway, 2019)