Passage Read: Ezekiel 12-15
Meditation Verses: 13:6-7
Thought
There were prophets who maybe thought they were doing good by giving the people words of encouragement, promising them peace (though there was no word from God assuring peace). But their words of encouragement didn't move the people to change their ways but to remain in them. The prophets made promises, claiming them to be from God, when they had no assurance of that. They thought by invoking God's name, God would be obligated to make good on their promises, in order to guard His name and reputation. But God doesn't work that way. God speaks truth, teaches righteousness, rebukes for sin and warns of judgment. Anyone who promises that everything will be ok when there is no biblical justification or support for that assurance is the same as these prophets. They will be cut off from the people of God. God Himself will show their promises to be false, and those who were falsely comforted will confront those prophets over their lies.
Application
Unless I am sure that I have heard from God clearly and directly, or Scripture makes it absolutely clear, I don't want to promise anyone anything. I can't promise someone who I know little about that all will go well with them. I can't declare healing in Jesus' name just because I want to. I can't promise anyone a trouble-free life because they claim to believe in Jesus. I can't even declare that someone is assured of heaven because they prayed a prayer once; salvation is not based on a formula but on belief that changes everything. If I make pronouncements about another person without biblical justification or a sure word from God, I'm no different from these false prophets and will incur their same judgment. But I can't go wrong if I continually urge people to repent and walk ever more carefully in Christ's ways.