Daily Devotions
Ezekiel
"Her princes in her midst are like wolves"
Text: Ezekiel 22:27
PRINCES AND PROPHETS
The princes played key roles politically. The prophets were meant to play key roles spiritually. Unfortunately, both groups failed miserably. They were held accountable for their misdeeds by the Lord!
“Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey,
to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.
Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar,
seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying,
‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken.”
Ezekiel 22:27-28
1. The princes of Judah.
a) They were meant to protect the people by upholding justice.
b) They were meant to be good examples for the people to emulate.
c) The princes were more concerned about the following:
i) Their status.
ii) Their wealth.
iii) Their pleasures.
d) Their misdeeds were highlighted by the Lord:
i) They were compared to ravenous wolves tearing their prey apart.
ii) They thought nothing of shedding blood.
iii) They destroyed people without feeling.
iv) They resorted to wicked deeds as long as they could get gain.
v) No one in the land dared to stand up against them.
vi) The princes were guilty of ravaging the land.
2. The prophets.
a) They proved to be false prophets.
b) They were compared to builders.
c) But they were poor builders.
i) They used untampered mortar.
ii) The mortar would not hold if there was to be a thunderstorm.
iii) The walls would have gaps because of the use of untampered mortar.
d) They spoke of having visions from God.
i) But their visions were false.
ii) They came up with their own ideas and deceived many by their “visions”.
e) They spoke lies.
i) They declared “Thus says the Lord God”.
ii) In reality, the Lord had not spoken to them at all.
iii) They made use of the name of God to appear credible.
iv) They were nothing more than liars.