Prophecy – Ezekiel 13-18

As a Christian, there have been many times I was terribly disgruntled because just like the man pictured above, I felt that there were too many demands placed upon me and too many roles God expects me to play.

Such a feeling has been recently compounded by a series of headache inducing events that hurtled into my life as if God were dropping a whole load of files in my lap and telling me, “Here you go, deal with them pronto!?”

While I dare not say I have suffered a minute portion of what Ezekiel did, it brings to mind how I first mentioned he was a player under the direction of God and suffered because of the roles God required him to play.

Although I did not go into detail about WHY Ezekiel was willing to bear with all the indignities and misery, PS (whoever he/she is  ) raised some compelling points in his/her comment about the reasons why Ezekiel was such a faithful player. I felt it a good reminder to me, as well as to all of us, whenever we wanted to grumble about all the hats God is piling on us and since we can see some of these hats that we wear as Christians in our passage today, let us bear in mind the reasons we have to be faithful in all these roles.

Bible Passage:  Ezekiel 13-18

Do you see the same ‘hats’ as I do? Here are the roles I can identify in the passage:

Prophet of God

Today’s passage starts with a prophecy against foolish prophets. Why are they foolish? God says that they

‘prophesy out of their own heart’ (Ezek 13:2)

‘have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel’ (Ezek 13:5)

‘envisioned futility and false divination’ (Ezek 13:6)

‘have spoken nonsense’ (Ezek 13:8)

[say] ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace’ (Ezek 13:10)

‘have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and [...] strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.’ (Ezek 13:22)

As we read this chapter, do we remember that we are prophets of God as well? Because the Word of God has been entrusted to us, we have the responsibility to warn, teach and encourage accordingly.

Yet, are we sometimes guilty of being a foolish prophet as well? Are there occasions when we teach the doctrines of man as commandments of God? Do we sometimes twist the Word to achieve our own agenda? Have we used it to criticise instead of exhort? Or more frequently, do we sometimes just hide it and not use it as we should?

When we read this chapter, it is a good time to reflect and consider if we have been a faithful prophet like Ezekiel or a foolish one that God sets His hand against (Ezek 13:9).

Worshipper of Adonai

The passage goes on to talk about how the house of Israel has ‘set up idols in [its] heart’ It must be noted that this phrase was first used in reference to the elders of Israel who went and sat before Ezekiel. God says of them,

‘[...] these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. [...]‘ (Ezek 14:3)

What does this make us think of? Personally, it was first a shock to me that seemingly reverent people were guilty of this sin. Then, it was an indication to me that I could be guilty of this sin as well.

Not too long ago, during the mid-year spiritual meeting, I was teaching the Lower Primary the Ten Commandments. As I was teaching them the first commandment by explaining what it means when God says ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.’ I was struck by my conscience.

In the act of telling these young children how they should not value their PlayStations and cartoons more than God, I was berating myself for valuing my enjoyment and vain glory more than God.

How then can God be God to me if He is not the first and the Adonai, the Lord of my life?

Bride of Christ

Another role mentioned, which takes up the bulk of the passage, is that of a bride. While the key word for a worshipper is ‘precedence’ – nothing before God; that of a bride is ‘exclusivity’ – no one but God. God says,

‘[...] the LORD your God [is] a consuming fire, a jealous God.’ (Deut 4:24)

Paul also says,

‘For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.’ (2 Cor 11:2)

The relationship we have with God is exclusive. We are the betrothed of the Lamb and the Bride of Christ. Like how God painstakingly rescued Israel from certain death in the open field, Christ ransomed us with His blood to be His Bride. In our role as Christ’s bride, we must ensure that the love we have for Him is exclusive just like a wife will not love another man the way she loves her husband.

As food for though in conclusion, let us consider, like Ezekiel, the Spirit of God is in us and His hand upon us. God has already done so much for us, have we, like Ezekiel, played the roles He assigns us to the best of our ability?