1. What can we learn about the prophets in Israel in the first four verses of this chapter?
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“(1) And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; (3) Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! (4) O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts” (Ezekiel 13:1-4).
The false prophets were working together (Ezekiel 22:25).
The people loved it (Jeremiah 5:30-31).
Some false prophets were allowed by God to be deceived (Ezekiel 14:9; cf. II Thessalonians 2:9-12).
However, these false prophets were just making it up in their hearts (Jeremiah 14:13-15).
God had not sent them (Jeremiah 29:8-9).
God said to hear His words (Isaiah 1:10 and Luke 11:28).
Woe unto them (Jeremiah 23:28-32) and we see that future generations from them did not learn (Matthew 23:12-36).
The likening to foxes in the desert is a warning about the predatory nature of these false prophets (Micah 3:5; 11).
2. Had the prophets stood in the breaches of the spiritual wall that had been broken?
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No: “Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD” (Ezekiel 13:5).
The prophets should have been bridging the gaps between God and Israel; preventing judgment against them (Ezekiel 22:26-31; cf. Exodus 32:10-14, Psalms 106:23, I Timothy 2:5, and I John 2:1-2).
3. Were the prophets of Israel being honest?
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No: “(6) They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. (7) Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken? (8) Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD. (9) And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 13:6-9).
They were liars (Zechariah 10:2).
They were publishing a message of false peace (Jeremiah 37:19).
They made people hope their words were true (Proverbs 14:15 and Jeremiah 29:31).
They lied when they said their message was from the Lord (Jeremiah 23:14).
Their lies set God against them (Jeremiah 23:30).
God planned to remove them from among His people (Ezekiel 20:38).
4. Did the message the prophets of Israel delivered to the people help them?
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No. It was a message of false peace that was going to result in them unpreparedly knowing the wrath of God: “(10) Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: (11) Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. (12) Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? (13) Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. (14) So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. (15) Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it; (16) To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 13:10-16).
The seduction of a false messenger (Proverbs 12:26, Mark 13:22, II Timothy 3:13, I John 2:26, and Revelation 2:18-29).
The false message of peace (Jeremiah 6:14) when there is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21).
Untempered morter that would not protect them (Ezekiel 22:28-31).
They did not help Israel as they taught them a message that did NOT turn them from their sins (Lamentations 2:14). This was the desire of the people (Isaiah 30:9-11 and Micah 2:11). Not much different in this today (II Timothy 4:1-5).
5. What were the prophetesses in Israel teaching during Ezekiel’s days?
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Like the prophets, they were prophesying a false hope and preventing repentance by doing so: “(17) Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them, (18) And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? (19) And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies? (20) Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. (21) Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. (22) Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life” (Ezekiel 13:17-22).
The women of Israel had a reputation that was not good during times of apostasy (Isaiah 3:16-26).
They wore garments that gained prestige (Matthew 23:1-11).
They hunted souls (Matthew 7:15) for profit (Isaiah 56:10-12 and II Peter 2:1-22).
God was going to see to it they they were stopped (Titus 1:10-14).
They made the righteous sad (Proverbs 29:2) while strengthening the wicked (Proverbs 28:4 and Jeremiah 23:14).
“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 17:15).
6. Was the Lord going to allow the daughters of Israel to continue doing what they were doing?
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No: “Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 13:23).
Like with the male false prophets, the Lord was going to stop these women from continuing their falsehoods (Ezekiel 13:6-9).
Whether then or even now, God does not want those whom are false among His people (Ezekiel 34:10, Romans 16:17-18, and Galatians 2:1-5).