Proper 9: First Reading, Ezekiel 2:1-5                                     

Ezekiel 2:1-5

God spends a lot of His “time” speaking to us. Today there are many claiming to hear His voice and many of those are spilling their message to any who will listen. And the church is filled with gullible folks who will listen to anything with a “thus says the LORD” attached. The danger? The mind is easily confused and when the real thing comes along, well perhaps it is a bit muddled to the deceived ear. But, and this is where there is hope, the trained ear is a discerning one. Jesus said in John, “ … the sheep follow him (the shepherd), for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow (John 10:4-5a).

Dear brother Ezekiel carries the Lord’s message to his fellow exiles in Babylon. And more than any other author of the Old Testament, the prefix, “Thus says the Lord GOD,” is attached to the words of this great prophet. Is there a distinction in the cries of a true prophet and the pretenders who clutter the airwaves and cyberspace today? Absolutely. But it is absolutely recognizable only to those with trained ears. A stranger they will not follow.

Ezekiel, like his Lord, is confident of what he speaks. “And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them (Ezek. 2:5). Ezekiel’s hearers don’t take all he says at face value. Jesus had the same dilemma. But there is no question about the source of their message. 

Today’s “prophets” interestingly enough will show great labor in gathering what they think they have heard. Why? Well, it's a signal that the voice they are hearing is NOT the Word of the Lord GOD.

God, save us from false voices and train up our ears. Amen.