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folk religion among the people of God

Ezekiel 13:1-7

Ezekiel 13:1 The word of Yahveh happened to me:
Ezekiel 13:2 “Son of Adam, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination, ‘Hear the word of Yahveh!
Ezekiel 13:3 This is what the Lord Yahveh says: Tragedy to the foolish prophets who follow their own breath and have seen nothing.
Ezekiel 13:4 Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins.
Ezekiel 13:5 You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it might stand in battle on the day of Yahveh.
Ezekiel 13:6 They saw false visions and their lots were a lie. They claimed, “This is Yahveh’s declaration,” when Yahveh did not send them, yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.
Ezekiel 13:7 Didn’t you see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you proclaimed, “This is Yahveh’s declaration,” even though I had not spoken?

folk religion among the people of God

Where did these false visions come from? The problem was more than simply people saying what they wanted to say. Ezekiel was addressing full-blown animism – folk religion among the people of God. The false visions came from unclean spirits, and the magic bands were a form of divination that purported to enhance hunting skills. It was actually hunting the souls of the hunters. It was all lies – coming from Satan’s realm. The LORD is the protection of his people. Looking for protection elsewhere is a grievous sin.

LORD, forgive us for looking for spiritual protection and power in the wrong places.