Ezekiel 14:9

"I will set my face against that man and will make him an astonishment, for a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD."

Key Reflection

In Ezekiel 14:9, God declares His judgment on a prophet who advises wicked individuals to seek Him for forgiveness and blessing. By setting His face against such a prophet, God ensures that he will become a public spectacle—a sign and proverb—cut off from the community of believers. This act is meant to demonstrate unequivocally God's authority and sovereignty, teaching those who witness it that He alone controls divine judgment and mercy. The cultural context underscores the seriousness of false prophecy, as such actions could lead to significant social and religious upheaval within the Israelite community.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

I the Lord hare deceived that prophet -A deep truth lies beneath these words, namely, that evil as well as good is under God’s direction. He turns it as He will, employing it to test the sincerity of men, and thus making it ultimately contribute to the purification of His people, to the confirmation of the righteous, to the increase of their glory and felicity. The case of the false prophets who deceived Ahab1 Kings 22:0is a striking representation of this principle. The Lord sends forth an evil spirit to persuade Ahab to his ruin. Toward the close of the kingdom of Judah false prophets were especially rife.

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