Am I A God At Hand, Saith the Lord, And Not a God Afar Off?- Part 2555

“For Thou hast confirmed to Thyself Thy people Israel to be a people unto Thee for ever; and Thou, O Lord, art become their God.” (II Samuel 7:240

“ … and hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant.” (II Chronicles 16:17; Psalm 105:10)

“Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, “The Lord saith, and the Lord hath not sent them, and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the Word. Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?” (Ezekiel 13:5-7)

“How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, which think to cause My people to forget My name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten My name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream: and he that hath My Word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? Is not My Word like as a fire?” Saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets,” saith the Lord, “that steal My words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets,” saith the Lord, “that use their tongues, and saith, “He saith.” Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams,” saith the Lord, “ and do tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commandment them: therefore, they shall not profit this people at all,” saith the Lord!” (Jeremiah 23:26-32)

In this context, the Word of the Lord came unto Ezekiel saying, “Son of man, prophecy against the prophets of Israel, that prophesy and say unto them that prophecy out of their own hearts, “Hear ye the Word of the Lord” … thus saith the Lord God, “Woe unto the foolish prophets that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing. O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle of the day of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 13:1-5)

It is at this point that the Lord reveals that what these prophets are actually seeing is vanity and lying divination — making others to hope that they would confirm the Word. Then He asks, “Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination …?”

Moreover, the Lord God responds to His own question, stating, “Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold I AM against you,” saith the Lord God. And Mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel, and ye shall know that I AM the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 13:8)

Note that the Lord does not stop there. He then states, “Because, even because they have seduced My people, saying, “Peace, and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar, say unto them which daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall, and a stormy wind shall rend it. Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, “Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?” Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: “I will even rend it with a story wind in My fury: and there shall be an overflowing shower in Mine anger, and great hailstones in My fury to consume it. So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I AM the Lord. Thus will I accomplish My wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered porter, and will say unto you, “The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it; to wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace,” saith the Lord God.

“Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of Thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart, and prophecy thou against them, and say, “Thus saith the Lord God, “Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of My people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? And will ye pollute Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to salt the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to My people that hear your lies?” Wherefore, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I AM the Lord. Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he would not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: therefore, ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and ye shall know that I AM the Lord.” (Ezekiel 13:1-23)

“For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard His Word? Who hath marked His Word and heard it?” (Jeremiah 23:18; I Corinthians 2:16)

But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. (Jeremiah 23:22)

“Because ye have not hearkened unto Me,” saith the Lord!” (Jeremiah 25:5)

“Because ye have not heard My words …” (Jeremiah 25:8)

All the whilst, the people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy; yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And, as the Lord said, “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:29-30) ‘’

We have a choice to make — whether we who profess to believe follow those who call themselves prophets, or instead seek in our hearts to hear the Word of the Lord.

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (I Corinthians 2:16; John 15:15; Romans 11:34-35)

If we believe that this same Jesus whom we crucified is both Lord and Christ, we should understand that the voices of hirelings we will not hear, but rather the Good Shepherd who willingly laid down His life for His sheep. (Acts 2:36-41; John 10:12-13)

Stand in the offering plate.