Room of Pictures

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 8

Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us.’” (Ezekiel 8.12)

Devotional Thought: Without any doubt, we have seen scientific, medical, and social progress in the history of humanity, but what we haven't seen is moral progress.  "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1.9). 

Ezekiel decried the abominations that were taking place "in the dark... in his room of pictures."  Specifically, these abominations were depictions of idolatrous and lewd behavior by religious leaders in the Jerusalem temple.  But does it not bring to mind the "dark rooms of pictures" in our day?

·       Computers and phones and tablets used to view pornography and violence

·       Actual physical rooms where women and children are taken to be trafficked

·       Semi trailers where 'coyotes' imprison migrants hoping for a better life

·       Chat rooms where illicit relationships foster

·       Social media which allows anonymous character destruction and hate

·       Dark internet sites used to promote violence, convey child pornography, or sell illegal goods

·       Closed rooms in the Capitol building where lawmakers retreat to promote agendas out of public eyesight

·       The imagination of a wicked heart harboring lust, hatred, anger, and revenge

People in these rooms feel safe, thinking, "the Lord does not see us."  But, just as in Ezekiel's day, "Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known" (Luke 12.2). 

What, then, are we to do?  Remember the Lord sees what is done in secret and will reward each one according to what he has done in secret (Matthew 6) and confess our sins so that the Lord will forgive them (1 John 1.9).

Prayer: Father, I do not wish to live with secrets, but sometimes I am blind to my own sin.  Show me what you see and give me the honesty and courage to confess my sins and receive your forgiveness.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 26.9-12

9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

10 in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.

12 My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.