Ezekiel 13:1-7: a reflection

1The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the LORD’s word: 3The Lord GOD says, “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 4Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places. 5You have not gone up into the gaps or built up the wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the LORD’s day. 6They have seen falsehood and lying divination, who say, ‘The LORD says;’ but the LORD has not sent them. They have made men to hope that the word would be confirmed. 7Haven’t you seen a false vision, and haven’t you spoken a lying divination, in that you say, ‘The LORD says;’ but I have not spoken?”

God speaks against the false prophets of Israel, and the heart of his charge is that they spoke their own words in his name. Woe to the foolish prophets, he says, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing. They said, The LORD declares, when the LORD had not sent them or spoken to them; they prophesied out of their own imagination, dressing up their own ideas as messages from God. They put their own words in God's mouth.

Notice the particular sin God names: claiming his authority for what he had not said. These prophets had seen no vision from God; they spoke from their own hearts, their own imaginations, their own wishes, and then attached God's name to it, saying, The LORD declares. To speak your own opinion is one thing; to claim that God has said it, when he has not, is another, and a grave one. They made their own words carry the weight of God's authority.

That is a warning worth heeding, for the temptation to speak our own ideas as though they were God's is subtle and common. We can be quick to claim God's backing for our own opinions, preferences, and plans, to say, in effect, God wants this, God is telling me, when it may be only our own heart speaking. But to attach God's authority to what he has not said is a serious thing. Be careful not to put your own words in God's mouth. Speak your opinions as opinions, but do not claim God's authority for what he has not clearly said. Take care to speak for God only what he has truly spoken, in his word, and hold your own ideas humbly, not dressing them up as the voice of God.

Lord, you spoke against the false prophets who followed their own spirit and said, The LORD declares, when you had not spoken; they dressed up their own imaginations as messages from you, claiming your authority for what you had not said. Warn me by that. The temptation to speak my own ideas as though they were yours is subtle and common. I can be quick to claim your backing for my own opinions, preferences, and plans, to say, in effect, God wants this, when it may be only my own heart speaking. But to attach your authority to what you have not said is a serious thing. Help me be careful not to put my own words in your mouth. Let me speak my opinions as opinions, but not claim your authority for what you have not clearly said. Help me speak for you only what you have truly spoken in your word, and hold my own ideas humbly, not dressing them up as your voice. Keep me honest and humble in your name.