John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 11:4

"Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man." — Ezekiel 11:4 (ASV)

Yesterday we saw that the Jews contemptuously evaded the prophecies of Jeremiah, especially when he threatened them with God’s wrath. For he had said that a vision was given to him, in which Jerusalem was like a pot, and the fire lit from the north. Mockingly, they said that they could rest safely within the city because they were not yet cooked but raw, so that if that prophecy were true, they said, they would not depart from the city so quickly.

For, they reasoned, God foretold that we would be the flesh that was about to be cooked. If this city is a cauldron, we ought to remain here until we are cooked; but this has not happened. Therefore, what Jeremiah proclaims is futile—that we will be dragged into exile—because these two things conflict: namely, God wanting us to rest in the city, and yet dragging us into a distant region.

Their conclusion, based on this reasoning, was that Jeremiah’s prophecy was futile. In this way, then, they deceived themselves. But God commands another of his prophets to rise up against them. And the repetition is emphatic: prophesy, prophesy against them. For nothing is less tolerable than for men to arrogantly scorn God’s anger, which ought to inspire everyone with fear.

For if the mountains melt before him (Isaiah 64:3), and if angels themselves tremble (Job 4:18), how can it be that the vessel of clay dares to conflict with its Maker (Isaiah 45:9)?

And we also see how God grows angry against such perversity, especially when he denounces, by the mouth of Isaiah, that this sin would be unpardonable.

I have called you, he said, to ashes and mourning; but, on the other hand, you have said, "Let us eat and drink," and you have turned my threats into a laughing-stock. For this was your proverb, "Tomorrow we shall die": As I live, your iniquity shall not go unpunished.

God affirms by an oath that he would never be appeased by the impious and profane despisers of his judgments.

For this reason also, he now repeats, prophesy, prophesy. Let us go on—