When
a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash. (Ezekiel 13:10)
Ezekiel
warns his audience to beware false prophets who declare, This is the word of the Lord, when it is not. These men are quick
to persuade people: Everything’s going to
be alright, even when the opposite is true.
They
build a flimsy wall of lies and then cover it with whitewash to make it look
strong... but it’s a façade that won’t stand up to real life.
The
Apostle Paul writes about speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). The
truth without love isn’t the truth; it’s just facts. But covering up the truth,
even to spare someone’s feelings, can be dangerous.
Ezekiel
is writing about men, supposedly speaking on God’s behalf, who withhold the
truth. He doesn’t give us the details of why
these false prophets lie. Maybe they are afraid of the kill the messenger syndrome. Perhaps they don’t want to throw a wet
blanket on the meager hope the people have grasped. It could be that they love
the people and just don’t want to be the bearer of bad news.
On
Day 248 we discussed how Ezekiel wasn’t responsible for the reaction to his
message; he was only responsible to speak God’s truth. Sometimes even the truth
in love is difficult to hear, but that’s the message with which we’ve been
tasked.
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