Ezekiel 13

Comment:

I am not going to print out the entirety of Chapter 13 in the Book of Ezekiel, as it is quite lengthy. Ezekiel's early prophecies (chapters 1-24) concern the imminent destruction of Jerusalem, which happened in 587 BCE. In the six years preceding that event, Ezekiel repeatedly warned that unless the nation of Israel returned to its commitment to the religion of Yahweh, its conquest by a foreign nation was unavoidable. He attacks others in this chapter who claim to be prophets, who were reassuring the people that there was no problem. Likewise, there were apparently soothsayers and mediums who 'whitewashed the wall' by encouraging people to embrace the status quo, insisting that there was no need for concern. Many of these false prophets claimed that their prophecies came from the Lord, and Ezekiel angrily speaks for the Lord, warning that his is the only true voice.  

Any time we approach a crossroads in our spiritual expansion, it is always tempting to listen to voices of assumed authority—thoughts in our minds assuring us that everything's just fine. They can easily drown out the true voice of Spirit, seeking to guide us through all challenges. It's significant, I think, that after the fall of Jerusalem and the imprisonment of its people by the Babylonian Empire, Ezekiel continued to accept his role as prophet for the Lord; but now the voice for the Lord becomes one of comfort and assurance, telling the people that the Lord is still with them, available to guide them through and beyond their exile. It's so for us as well; the underlying truth expressed by every prophet is simply that choices have consequences. If we want to change the consequences we are experiencing, we must first make choices based on spiritual awareness rather than fear-based distractions.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed