The Danger of False Prophets
Daily Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 11-13
Daily Focus Passage: Ezekiel 13
People today face the threat of falling prey to false prophets who seek to declare a message that appeases the ears, rejects the Lord, and suits their narrative. These individuals attempt to communicate with authority a message that leads people astray and away from the Lord. The message of these false prophets combines truth with lies that confuse people who do not have spiritual maturity or who seek to know the truth revealed in the Word of God. This issue of false prophets is not a new problem, as the people in the days of Ezekiel dealt with the issue.
THE MESSAGE TO APPEASE
Ezekiel received the message from the Lord to confront the false prophets because they declared "peace when there was no peace." The false prophets said this message because it soothed the ears of their listeners and gained the trust of those who listened to them. By appeasing the listeners, the false prophets made their message sound good. The people receiving the message would find encouragement because the message affirmed their lives and did not challenge them to grow or change their behavior. As a result, the message of appeasement does not come from truth but instead from the desire to please others and accept wrongs to gain the audience's approval.
THE MESSAGE OF REJECTION
Ezekiel declared that the false prophets announced a message that rejected the truth of the Lord. They would mix enough of the truth with their opinions to create a belief that appealed to the fleshly nature. They would attempt to justify sinful actions by distorting truth to gain an audience. Though the message carried truth, the use of non-truth adjusted the meaning, and as a result, the prophets rejected the Lord. The message of rejection caused the people to accept a way of life that mirrored the rejection of the Lord, and as a result, the people were wayward and facing the punishment of the Lord.
THE MESSAGE OF PERSONAL GAIN
The false prophets knew their declared message opened the possibility of personal gain. They could gain the support of the people. They could gain notoriety and prestige from the people. They could pad their pockets with the support of the people. The desire of the false prophets did not center on declaring the Lord's message but instead focused on announcing the message of humanity. They prophesied the people's message to gain society's attention and benefits.
We continue to live in a world plagued with false prophets. Many of these false teachers mix enough of the truth with the words of culture to confuse the listeners. They achieve this by both adding to and subtracting from the truth. They attempt to gain the attention of humanity and seek to encourage the people with a message of appeasement and acceptance, not truth. As believers, we must stand for truth. We must learn to discern the truth from the message of the false prophets. We must seek to please the Lord and not please humanity. May we strive to be people who seek the truth of the Lord and live that truth out.
