Ezekiel chapter 13 consists of 23 verses of “warning!”
Particularly directed at the “clergy!”
Preachers (or so-called preachers) who have drifted far from God.
The chapter divides itself into two halves, against (preaching) men who lie about God. And against (preaching) women who lie about God!
These two sections are demarcated by the word “woe!”
“Thus saith the Lord God; WOE unto the foolish PROPHETS, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!” Ezekiel 13:3, with the exclamation point being in the King James Text!
Then: “Thus saith the Lord God; WOE to the WOMEN that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs (veils) 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?” Ezekiel 13:18, “tools” of astrology, spiritism!
Every study Bible I have consulted labels this chapter as “Warnings against False Prophets.”
The word “woe” (“hoy” in Hebrew) means “Alas, Ah!” Words expressing surprise, shock … at coming judgment! (Jesus Himself used this term many times.)
I find verse 8 typical, especially depicting God’s Attitude toward this crowd. “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.”
Particularly note those words, “I AM AGAINST THEE.”
Contrast with this Paul’s great statement: “If GOD BE FOR US, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Wow!
Why is God this angry? “Because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace.” Verse 10, where “seduced” means “to cause to go astray.”
One of the main messages of these lying prophets was that Jeremiah was wrong, and Ezekiel. God was NOT going to allow Babylon (or any other Nation) to attack Israel. Only PEACE was in her future!” So they said. (No wonder they are held in ridicule now! Babylon did attack, within six years of their “ministries.”)
Then the girls, women: “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.” Verse 16, ever notice how many times in the Bible women preachers lead God’s people astray? Often!
Preaching “out of their own hearts!”
Not preaching “the Word of the Lord!”
The “pillows” and “kerchiefs” both deal with “spells” and “incantations” and “ritual worship.” Bluntly, worshipping the devil! “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls of men.”
They are a very long way from worshipping Almighty God “in spirit and in truth!”
God here says He is going to STOP this crowd!
“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 (NO ATTACK FROM ANY ENEMY): therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand.” Verses 22-23, they have produced exactly the “opposite” effect God’s true Servants desire!
God wants the righteous to be “joyful!”
And God desires the “hands of the wicked” to weaken and fail!
Plus … the verb “deliver” (“snatch, rescue”) means God is going to intervene and expose these liars for what they actually are. These last two verses imply God can “cut off” even their false visions!
Yes, God is indeed Lord over all!
Even the demons!
What a chapter.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell