That’s a strange title for a lesson, “Hypocrites at Church.” But in reality that’s what Ezekiel chapter 14 depicts, in its first paragraph anyway.
Read with me the first five verses. “Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have SET UP IDOLS IN THEIR HEART, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that SETTETH UP IDOLS IN HIS HEART, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and COMETH TO THE PROPHET; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols …” And answer, God sure did!
Note first of all that Israel still had a King! One named “Jehoiachin” who was then in prison in Babylon. And yet again one back in Jerusalem, “Zedekiah!” But God recognized neither of these sinful “failures.” They are basically “out of the picture.” Wicked leadership does NOT favorably impress God!
Instead of “Kings” (Royalty) the “elders” of Israel seem to be her leaders. (Bureaucrats!) “Zaqen” in Hebrew means “old men, aged ones,” and once “senators.”
And of all things, they (these elders) came to see the Prophet!
Why not consult one of their many new-found gods or goddesses?
Apparently, they wanted the semblance of “going to the Lord,” going to “His Man,” going to “Assembly!” (To Church, we’d say today.)
But look … “Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their IDOLS in their heart ….” God certainly knew what was lodged deep within their hearts and minds and spirits!
The clause “put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face” means the idols they love will make them “stumble, fall” any day now!
And these men are “seeking” God? God wondered too! “Should I be enquired of at all by them?”
God is not obligated to hear the prayers of an unrepentant, rebellious wicked man or woman!
Yet, surprisingly, God does (in a way) answer them!
But not with good news! Not with acceptance … until they repent!
Also notice in verse four that God says they have a “multitude” of idols! “Rob” in Hebrew means “many, abundant, plenty.” Lots of them!
Most Preachers in America likely speak each Sunday to some who “ritually” go to Church, “habitually” … but have wicked imaginations in their hearts! I wonder if we make God sick, too?
God to this crowd: ““Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.” Verse 6, where “repent” has the idea of doing a 180 degree reversal!
And if not … “I the LORD will answer him by myself: and I will set my face AGAINST that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will CUT HIM OFF from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” Wow, verses 7 and 8.
God hates hypocrisy!
But there is another truth I see!
Astounding, too.
“And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.” Verse 9, where clearly a “false prophet” is in view. Some of them had erred so very far from the truth, that God had “turned them over” to accepting lies, to believing the lies they preached! (God doing this to hard-hearted, apostate sinners is seen 3 times in Romans 1, the last half of the chapter!) And remember 2 Thessalonians 2:11, which will (at least) occur during the Tribulation: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” Wow!
One translation of “deceive” (“pathah” in Hebrew) is “to make silly!” The root idea behind the verb is “to be spacious, open, wide!” Too liberally minded, willing to accept too many “options” regarding God’s Word? Too “loose” with the Bible?
Frightening!
Look here too! The prophet who misleads a people … will face the very same judgment as the people who have followed his lies! “The punishment of the prophet shall be EVEN AS the punishment of him that seeketh unto him.” Verse 10, identical!
Lastly today … the Lord uses the name of three of his most faithful prayer warriors! Specifically … “Noah and Daniel and Job!”
In essence God says that things are so bad in Israel (Judah) now … that even these 3 men’s prayers could not spare the people! “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it (Jerusalem), they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.” Verse 14, amazing!
Then God ends the sad chapter by adding a word of grace! Verse 22, God to Ezekiel: “Yet, behold, therein shall be left a REMNANT that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.”
Thank God for the “few” who stay faithful!
What a chapter!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell