Ezekiel 13:5 (NIV) You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord.

During the time of the Prophet Ezekiel’s ministry, God used him to correct His people who had sinned greatly against Him. He also used him to correct the prophets who instead of telling the people the truth, prophesied what the people’s itching ears wanted to hear. Ezekiel seemed to be one of the very few prophets who spoke the words of truth that the Lord gave him to speak (Jeremiah and Daniel also prophesied during his time). The words were words of rebuke for the horrible sins that the people were committing and at this point, the judgement that was upon them with still more judgement to come.

In the passage of scripture above, the Lord was rebuking the prophets specifically for neglecting their godly duty of warning the people and beseeching them to turn from their sinful ways, which God likened to repairing breaches in the wall that was around Jerusalem. It was a word picture of how God viewed their neglect of working towards being godly influencers that could turn the people’s hearts back to Him, thereby avoiding the judgement that was upon them. They were now exiles in Babylon and under the thumb of King Nebuchadnezzar. The breaches in the wall represented the danger that they had opened themselves up to by turning away from the only one that could keep them safe, secure and blessed. When a wall around a city was in disrepair, it meant that bandits, marauders and armies from hostile, surrounding countries could march right in and do them harm. God likened the neglect of these prophets to warn the people to neglecting to repair breaches in the wall that was around Jerusalem that was meant to keep the people safe. They should have examined the breached wall and done the repairs.

In the same way, we should examine our own “security wall” to see if it is in need of repair. Are we being diligent in checking to see that we have done the things that will keep us in line with God’s will and purpose for our lives? Have we gone a bit backward in our faith? Are we not praying like we used to? Have we neglected reading God’s Word consistently so that it will be hidden in our hearts, protecting us from the enemy’s schemes and our own sinful nature? If we are to stand firm in this corruptible world, our “spiritual wall” must be intact. We must examine ourselves and be ready to repair any area that has been breached and that has gotten damaged through sin or through neglect so that we will not lose ground in the spiritual warfare that we are engaged in on a daily basis. Let’s make sure that we are standing firm so that we will not only make it and stay safe, but that we also will be strong enough to take enemy territory to advance the Kingdom of God.

Pastor Joey Vazquez