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One-sentence summary: Ezekiel prophesies against those who disobey the Lord and then inquire of a prophet, against false prophets and diviners, and about the coming judgments against Jerusalem for persistent disobedience.
The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel, and He tells him to prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy out of their own heart and tell them that the Lord says: "Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!... they are like foxes in the deserts." They have not stood in the gap for the people on the day of the Lord but have "envisioned futility and false divination" when the Lord has not sent them. Therefore, the Lord says that because they have "spoken nonsense and envisioned lies," He is against them, and they will be cut off. Then, they will know He is the Lord, because they have seduced His people, saying, "Peace!" when there is no peace. The Lord says He will cause a stormy wind and flooding rain and great hailstones to break down the wall they have plastered with "untempered mortar" so that the foundations will be laid bare, and they will be consumed and know He is the Lord. Also, the Lord tells Ezekiel to set his face against the daughters of his own people who prophesy out of their own heart. They "hunt the soul's of [His] people" and profane Him. The Lord says He is against their magic charms by which they "hunt souls like birds." He says He will rip them from their arms and let the people go free, and then they will know He is the Lord. He says with lies they have made the heart of the righteous sad whom the Lord has not made sad and strengthened the hands of the wicked so that they do not turn and save their own lives.
Some of the elders of Israel come to Ezekiel and sit before him, and the word of the Lord comes to him. The Lord tells him that they have set up idols in their hearts and put before them "that which causes them to stumble into iniquity." He asks if He should be inquired of them and tells Ezekiel to tell them that anyone who puts up idols in his heart- and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity- and then comes to a prophet to inquire of the Lord, the Lord will answer him according to his iniquities. Also, He tells the house of Israel to repent and turn from their idols and abominations. He says that whoever separates himself from the Lord, sets up idols in his heart, and puts before him that which causes him to stumble, and then goes to a prophet to inquire of him, the Lord Himself will answer him and set His face against him, making him a sign and proverb and cutting him off from the midst of His people. Then, they will know He is the Lord. If the prophet is induced to speak anything, it is because the Lord has induced him, and He will destroy him from among His people; their punishment will be the same. This is so that Israel will no longer stray from Him but be His people, and He will be their God. The word of the Lord comes again and tells Ezekiel that when a land sins by persistent unfaithfulness, the Lord will stretch out His hand against it-sending famine and cutting off man and beast from it. He says even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness. If the Lord causes wild beasts to enter the land and make it desolate, even if these three men were in it, again, only they would be delivered. If He brings a sword against the land, even with these three men alive, they would deliver only themselves. Finally, He says that if He brings pestilence on the land, still, these three men would only save themselves. The Lord asks, "How much more will it be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem? The sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence, to cut off man and beast from it?" Yet, He says, there will be left a remnant that will be brought out, and the people will see "their ways and their doings" (that of the remnant), and they will be comforted from their disaster when they see it. Then, they will see the Lord has done nothing without cause.
The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel, and He asks how the wood of the vine is better than any other wood. He says it is used for fuel, not for making things and not useful for any work, much less so when it is put in the fire. Likewise, the Lord says, He will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem and set His face against them. They will go from one fire to the next, and then, they will know He is the Lord. The land will be desolate, because they have persisted in unfaithfulness.
Thoughts/discussion questions: