Whitewash

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 13

And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, "Where is the coating with which you smeared it?" (Ezekiel 13.12)

Devotional Thought: Whitewash: transitive verb - to conceal the unpleasant facts about something.

We have developed whitewashing to a science:

Mostly peaceful protests.  Second Amendment rights.  Fetal tissue.  Border security.  Reproductive rights.  Election security.  Voter suppression.  Climate change.  Science deniers.

These are just a few short phrases that are often used to gloss over inconvenient truths, things we would rather not see and absolutely will not discuss.

But modern culture is not the first to develop whitewashing as an art. In Ezekiel's day, the prophets of Israel had whitewashed Israel's rebellion and sin.  What was looming large before them that they wanted to cover up?  Ezekiel said it was:

·       Proclaiming falsehood (v. 8).  These prophets were proactive in spreading lies. 

·       Lying about visions (v. 8).  Wanting to give their visions a certain legitimacy, they claimed that they were straight from God.

·       Misleading people (v. 10).  People are like sheep and can be easily lead astray - away from safety and security.  That is why God wants "shepherds after my own heart" (Jeremiah 3.15).

·       Declaring a false, nonexistent peace (v. 10).  Even though the evidence (occupying force) was right before their eyes, the prophets reassured the people, "There is no 'there'[JW1]  there."

·       Building walls to shut out truth (v. 10).  They did this by ignoring the plain truth, punishing anyone who spoke the truth, filling the air with "noise" that drowned out the truth, rephrasing or reframing the truth to make it appear to be false.

But a day of reckoning came then and is coming now:  "I will make a stormy wind break out ... deluge of rain... great hailstones... to make a full end.  And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash" (vv. 13-14).

Prayer: Lord, though the truth is plain to see all around us, there are those who are whitewashing the truth.  Give us wisdom to know the truth and courage to follow it.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 31.1-7

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!

2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!

3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;

4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.

5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord.

7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul,