Ezekiel 12:17-13:23

Chronologically subsequent to the former prophecy and in the same timeframe (sometime between the 6th month of the 6th year and the 5th month of the 7th year of Zedekiah’s reign; time references: 8:1 & 20:1), Ezekiel was commanded to do another demonstration. After targeting the vain admiration of the people toward the Prince of Judah (Ezek. 12:1-16), and, behold, the Prince was led away captive to Babylon as a blind man (Ezekiel demonstrated), the LORD provided a prophetic demonstration to reveal the soon-to-be experience of “the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of the Land of Israel” (Ezek. 12:19): the Evil Figs. The renowned Unconditional Eternal Security loyalists, who abode in the Kingdom of Judah, refused to admit that there was breach in National Security. Think of it! The targets of God’s eternal fury were believers in an un-breach-able security! The no-security people did only and always meditate on God’s mercy! Furthermore, in the same event or in a sequence of events with short periods in between them, three prophecies were given: “And the word of the LORD came unto me…” (Ezek. 12:21, 26, 13:1).

These three prophecies were delivered as in a lively exchange between God and the false prophets – an active combat for the souls of the people! – a verbal contention in which the LORD was directly responding to the false proverbs of the people (Ezek. 12:21-23), the flattering divinations of the false prophets (Ezek. 12:21-25), and the collective interpretation of the people of Israel concerning the word of the LORD through Ezekiel (Ezek. 12:26-28). Finally, the LORD delivered a comprehensive rebuke of the whole operation of damnation to overthrow the dominion of false prophets (Ezek. 13:1-23).