I've been reading Ezekiel lately. It's a fascinating book! But of course what has been "rattling" around in my brain for the past couple of days is not really fascinating but "in your face confrontation." So I am now compelled to share it with you. Following the verses I am including footnotes about them from my Bible.
"These evil prophets deceive my people by saying, "All is peaceful!" when there is no peace at all! It's as if the people have built a flimsy wall, & these prophets are trying to hold it together by covering it with whitewash! Tell these whitewashers that their wall will soon fall down. A heavy rainstorm will undermine it; great hailstorms & mighty winds will knock it down. And when the wall falls, the people will cry out, "Where is the whitewash you applied?"
"Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says; I will sweep away your whitewashed wall with a storm of indignation, with a great flood of anger, & with hailstones of fury. I will break down your wall right down to the foundation, & when it falls, it will crush you. Then you will know that I am the Lord! At last my anger against the wall & those who covered it with whitewash will be satisfied. Then I will say to you: "The wall & those who whitewashed it are both gone. They were lying prophets who claimed peace would come to Jerusalem when there was no peace. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!"
Ezekiel 13:10-16 NLT Life Application Study Bible
13:10-12 These false prophets covered their lies(a "flimsy wall")with "whitewash"-a pleasing front. Such superficiality can't hold up under God's scrunity.
2 comments:
This is applicable on so many levels. The first example that came to my mind was the federal reserve- empty promises, covering lies with lies in order to keep up the appearance of things being just great when we are truly in major trouble...
But more importantly it makes me think of false preachers that abound today- the ones who teach that God is up there wringing His hands, just HOPING someone will believe in Him so that He will get a chance to bless and prosper them beyond your wildest dreams. These teachers tend to focus only on "blessings" like new cars and promotions, completely ignoring SIN and the fact that as His followers we are supposed to DIE to ourselves. Biblical Christianity has been whitewashed in weak, man-centered ideology, and almighty God has been reduced to a cosmic vending machine.
Good example Cara. During this political season I think of all the politicians with their "smooth" talking.
Post a Comment