John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 13:7

"Have ye not seen a false vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, in that ye say, Jehovah saith; albeit I have not spoken?" — Ezekiel 13:7 (ASV)

Here God shows why He had previously pronounced that they brought forward nothing but vanity and falsehood: specifically, because they used His name falsely, and out of light created darkness. For by the pretense of speaking in God’s name, they darkened men’s minds. That sacred name is, as it were, a source of splendor, far surpassing the light of the sun; indeed, whatever light exists is made apparent and radiant by it.

But, as I have said, the servants of Satan turn light into darkness because they audaciously boast that God has said so. This passage and similar ones show us how diligently we should guard against Satan’s fallacies. This is their astounding boldness: to bring forward God’s name while they so recklessly trifle with His judgments.

For to boast that God has spoken is as if we wished, by impious profanation, purposely to draw Him into a dispute. For how can God tolerate us turning His truth into a lie? But there have been impostors in all ages who have thus carelessly flown in the face of God.

We are not surprised at pagans doing so. But among the chosen people, it was certainly an extraordinary offense and an intolerable disgrace—when they had access to all heavenly doctrine for the guidance of their conduct, and when God was daily raising up prophets, as He had promised through Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15–18)—to see these impious dogs who barked so, and that you pretended so proudly to speak in God’s name. Therefore, admonished by this warning, let us be on our guard when we see Satan’s servants endowed with such arrogance.