Ezekiel 12:21-28 - Homilies By W. Jones

The word of the Lord discredited and vindicated.

"And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel?" etc.

I. THE WORD OF THE LORD DISCREDITED .

1 . It was discredited in various degrees.

2 . It was discredited in open expression. "Behold, the house of Israel say, The vision that he sooth is for many days," etc. (verse 27). In the case of those who entirely discredited the word of the Lord by the prophet, the terms in which they expressed their disbelief had become proverbial. "What is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel?" etc. (verse 22). This sentiment, common among the people, "had been expressed in a pointed sentence,… and straightway became popular as a watchword, which was taken up on every occasion against the true prophet." Their disbelief of the message of the Lord by his prophet, and their derision of that prophet, were not veiled, but openly paraded by the people. As Greenhill says, "This wicked speech was become a proverb; it passed through the mouths of all sorts, young, old, great small, learned, ignorant; it was in the city and country, a proverb in the land of Israel." Disbelief had grown daring and defiant.

3 . This discredit was plausibly encouraged. False prophets, by means of vain visions and flattering divinations, had fostered disbelief of the stern announcements of Jeremiah, the true prophet of Jehovah (verse 24). These men had prophesied smooth things to the credulous house of Israel—credulous, that is, of such announcements as harmonized with their inclinations. So Ahab believed the smooth-speaking false prophets to his own death, while he hated and imprisoned the faithful Micaiah, the prophet of the Lord Jehovah ( 1 Kings 22:1-53 .). And the false prophets of Jeremiah's age encouraged the presumptuous security of the people until that security was shattered by disaster and ruin.

II. THE WORD OF THE LORD VINDICATED BY HIMSELF .

1 . By its continued proclamation. The people of Jerusalem probably thought by their disbelief and derision to put to silence the word of the Lord by Jeremiah his prophet. But God still speaks by him, and by Ezekiel also. "Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God," etc. (verse 23). "I am the Lord: I will speak," etc. (verse 25). "Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, etc. (verse 28). In this way God speaks again and again to this unbelieving and rebellious people. He will not leave himself without faithful witnesses, who will speak his word even to the most sceptical and stubborn of men (cf. Ezekiel 2:3-7 ; Ezekiel 3:4-11 ).

2 . By its fall and speedy fulfilment. The Lord here declares that:

3 . By putting to silence the also prophets who had discredited it . "There shall no more be any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel." The events that were drawing so near would confound these prophesiers of smooth things. The complete fulfilment of the visions of the true prophet would effectually stop the mouths of the false ones.

CONCLUSION . Our subject presents to us:

1 . An assurance of the certainty often fulfilment of the Word of the Lord. (Cf. Numbers 23:19 ; Psalms 89:34 ; Matthew 5:18 ; Matthew 24:35 ; Luke 16:17 ; l Peter Luke 1:23-25 .)

2 . Warning against unbelief of the Word of the Lord, and against the false security arising therefrom. The punishment denounced against sin will certainly be inflicted unless the sinner turn from his evil way.

3 . Encouragement to trust the Word of the Lord. Its promises are true and. reliable. The hopes which it inspires are not delusive. "For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the Yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us."—W.J.