Reading for January 9th

Read Ezekiel 14.1-11. Ezekiel must contend with competition from other prophets. God states that the elders have taken their idols into their hearts, apparently a reference to their consulting pagan diviners or a charge that other Judean prophets are false. The corse term for idols, literally "dung balls," demonstrates Ezekiel's disdain for such persons. In response to those who consult idols or false prophets, God states, "I, the Lord, will answer him myself," and claims to diliberately deceive the false prophets so they will be destroyed (1 Kings 22). The covenant formula they shall be my people, and i will be their God conveys God's intention to convince the people to remain loyal. Comments or Questions..