Thoughts On Ezekiel 13.
Today, we study the Book of Ezekiel Chapter 13, where FALSE & FOOLISH PROPHETS were judged by the Lord.
Reflection
“THE LORD HATES LYING LIPS”
The Bible categorically declares that “LYING LIPS ARE AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD. (Pro 12:22)
Key Scripture
“Because with LIES you have the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked”
(Ezekiel 13: 22)
Indeed those that act TRUTHFULLY are a delight to the Lord!
Definitely, a higher responsibility for TRUTH is required from Prophets!
Hence the Indignation of the ALMIGHTY against “FOOLISH PROPHETS” for prophesying FALSEHOOD-Surely judgment is well deserved.
Be Vigilant
Hence,we are advised to be VIGILANT!
The traits of False prophets include:
1. Lies & Deception
2. Inconsistency With Scriptures
3. Striving To Be Popular
4. Greed
5. Wickedness
6. Sadness For The People
Judgment!
Brethren, judgment AWAITS perpetrators of LIES as recorded in Ezekiel Chapter 13, including judgment against PROPHETS and Satan, the father of LIES.
Prayer
Father, we pray, “send out Your LIGHT & Your TRUTH! LET them bring us to Your holy hill and to Your Tabernacle. (Ps. 43:3)
Amen.
Thoughts on Ezekiel 14
“Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests?
I, the Lord, will answer all those, both Israelites and foreigners, who reject me and set up idols in their hearts and so fall into sin, and who then come to a prophet asking for my advice.
I will turn against such people and make a terrible example of them, eliminating them from among my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord
Ezekiel 14:3,7-8 NLT
Repentance, or turning away from sin is a crucial message in Ezekiel. God has given Israel every opportunity to turn from their sin, but they would not. In God’s holiness and justice, He poured out His judgement both to punish and restore His people.
Today, God continues to cry out to those who are called by His name (Jn 1:12) to turn from sin and return to a life of holiness and connectedness to Him. Though Israel placed a great value on their corporate identity as a nation, (the same way it is common in our days to emphasize our church affiliations
e.g I belong to LFF, I belong to MFM, I belong to this or that …), today’s reading highlights personal responsibility (in terms of behaviour) and personal relationship with God.
God’s desire has not changed. We saw this in the previous chapters of Ezekiel – that people will know Him (vs 8). The results of knowing God is a life of exploits, according to Dan 11:32b. God also promises to deliver those who set their love (affection) upon Him, Knowing God guarantees you are set on high…Ps 91:14, etc…
Each man’s righteousness will be accounted to him, as we saw God testified to the righteousness of Noah, Daniel and Job in verse 14.
While understanding the negative influence that circumstances, society, or even family may have on us, placing blame on others does no good for Godly living requires personal responsibility before the Lord.
Like Israel, we cannot blame our families, our leaders, or the church for the choices we have made nor can we also rely on someone else’s righteousness as an insurance policy against the consequences of walking in defiance to the things we have been taught about the word of His grace which is able to build us up and give us an inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:32)
God wants to recapture our hearts as we turn from pretense and idolatry (anything they captures our allegiance or imagination in such a way that our devotion to God is weakened) to seek the Lord with a sincere and submitted heart, and continually walk in His way, which is a pathway to life, joy and wholeness.
Is your faith personal and real, or are you resting in what other believers have done?
Thoughts On Ezekiel 15
Ezekiel 15 is a short but striking chapter where God uses a metaphor to illustrate the worthlessness of Jerusalem due to its persistent sin and rebellion.
The chapter consists of eight verses and focuses on the imagery of a vine—a symbol often associated with Israel in the Bible.
Ezekiel 15 also serves as a powerful reminder that God’s people are called to bear spiritual fruit. Just as Israel was chosen but became useless due to sin, the same principle applies to Christians today.
1. The Vine and Its Usefulness (Ezekiel 15:1-5)
God asks Ezekiel a rhetorical question:
“Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest?” (v.2).
Unlike trees with strong wood used for construction, the vine’s wood is weak, brittle, and only valuable for producing fruit.
Even before being burned, a vine’s wood is already unsuitable for making anything useful (v.3). If it is burned at both ends and charred in the middle, it becomes even more worthless (v.4).
This imagery aligns with Isaiah 5:1-7, where Israel is described as God’s vineyard that failed to produce good fruit, leading to its rejection. God’s expectation was for righteousness and justice, but instead, Israel produced wickedness and oppression.
Jesus echoed this message in John 15:1-6, where He said, _”I am the vine; you are the branches… If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers.”
A Christian who does not produce fruit (love, righteousness, obedience, good works) is in danger of becoming spiritually useless.
To bear fruit, believers must remain connected to Christ, drawing strength from Him through prayer, studying the Word, and living in obedience.
2. Judgment on Jerusalem (Ezekiel 15:6-8)
God explicitly applies this parable to Jerusalem:
“Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I have given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (v.6).
This is a prophecy of destruction Jerusalem will be judged by fire, a symbol of God’s wrath. The people will be removed from their land and face devastation because of their unfaithfulness.
Despite God’s repeated warnings and calls for repentance, they persisted in sin, leading to their downfall (v.7-8).
The vine in Ezekiel 15 was burned because it was useless. This symbolizes God’s judgment on those who claim to belong to Him but do not live according to His will. Similarly, Jesus warns in Matthew 7:19, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Ezekiel 15 is a wake-up call for modern-day Christians. It warns against spiritual complacency and calls believers to live lives that reflect God’s purpose. To remain fruitful, we must:
1. Abide in Christ through prayer and obedience – Staying connected to Jesus through a daily relationship ensures we remain spiritually vibrant.
2. Bear spiritual fruit in our daily lives* – Love, kindness, justice, and evangelism are marks of a fruitful believer.
3. Avoid complacency and take our faith seriously – True faith leads to transformation, not just religious identity.
Just as Israel faced judgment for its unfaithfulness, so too must Christians remain vigilant in their walk with God, ensuring that their lives reflect His kingdom.
