Scripture Meditation: Ezekiel 13

It's been said, "Truth is the cement that holds society together." A society built on a foundation other than truth will sit teeter-tottering on the edge of extinction. "Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant" (Isaiah 30:12-12). Our God is the God of Truth Who keeps His promises and He requires the same of His people. "He Who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind" (1 Samuel 15:29).

The people of Israel were cautioned to guard their tongue, which left unbridled could be used as a weapon to tear down and destroy others (reference Psalm 10:7). "They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent man..." (Psalm 5:9). To lie, is to slander or give false testimony for malicious purposes. To protect the innocent from such abuse, the Mosaic Law required two witnesses for a capital offense. Moses required the witnesses to be the executioners. "On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you" (Deuteronomy 17:6-7). Anyone caught giving a false testimony would receive the punishment of the one they were accusing. "If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time...if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you" (Deuteronomy 19:16-19).

The Lord condemned those who spoke falsely, especially the leaders who were called to guide the people according to His laws and lead them to walk in the way of truth. In our reading of Ezekiel 13 today, Ezekiel speaks against the false prophets who had neglected their God-given duty to intercede for the people, teach them the truth, and to call them to repentance (reference Ezekiel 22:30); choosing instead to lie to the people, tickling their ears, and benefiting themselves. "You have profaned Me among My people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live" (Ezekiel 13:19).

The Scriptures declare that there will come a time of great apostasy when many false prophets will appear and deceive the people (reference Matthew 24:10-11). "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:1-2). The times we are living in call for believers everywhere to make a conscious stand for Truth, becoming more intentional about spending time in the Word of God. Those whose job it is to identify counterfeit money do not spend all their time searching for the fake; they spend their time studying the real thing so they can immediately identify a counterfeit when they see it. So too, should be the way believers pursue the Truth. Every day we should be immersed in the Word of God so His Truth will be engraved on our hearts and minds, and everything we hear, read, or see should be filtered through God's Word. "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

God's children should be known, not only for knowing the Truth, but also for speaking the Truth in love (reference Ephesians 4:15). We are to continually grow to maturity in Christ, while leading others to His truth. "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body...do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:25, 29). We are called to reject all that is evil, living instead according to the rules of the kingdom of God (reference Colossians 3:9-10). "Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ" (1 John 2:22a). To believe in Jesus is to believe the Truth, for He is "the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). When we close our ears to the truth of Christ, we open our hearts to the lies of the enemy. "You belong to your father, the devil...he was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks in his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). The enemy's lies are flooding this land, and so deceptive are his ways that many believers, who have not rooted themselves in the Truth of God's Word, have found themselves caught in the undertow. We live in a world that has rejected absolute Truth and stands in opposition to God's holy and righteous Word. To reject the Truth of His Word includes rejecting His purposes for His people Israel. It is critical in this hour to line everything up with His holy Word - His Word is our measuring line - our plumb line of Truth! "...for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me" (John 18:37b).

Heavenly Father, Your law was given through Moses and grace and truth came through Jesus Christ; through Your Son You have been made known. Help us to spend time in Your Word and prayer each day so we can know You more fully; knowing the truth that sets us free. Open our eyes to see the crumbling walls of deception that are piling up at our feet; give us strength to dig through the rubble to resurrect Your truth and the humility to repent that we have allowed ourselves to be distracted by the lies of the world. Help us to seek Your favor and give all our attention to Your truth. Truth is nowhere to be found; it has perished; it has vanished; no one speaks the truth; except You; only You speak the truth, Lord. Open the eyes of Your people to recognize the lies that are being spoken about Your people and Your holy city. Raise up faithful intercessors who will stand in the gap and pray for Your truth to be brought to the surface and Your purposes to be accomplished. Do not allow those who speak lies against Your people to go unpunished. Lord may the blinders be taken off of people everywhere to hear Your truth and come to Your salvation. "Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, 'We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips - who is our master?' 'Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,' says the LORD. 'I will protect them from those who malign them.' And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever." We give you, the Glory of Israel, our honor and praise, may the whole earth be filled with your glory and truth we pray, in the exalted name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

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Prayer Scripture references: Psalm 12; Isaiah 45:19; 59:15; Jeremiah 7:28; 9:5; Daniel 9:13; John 1:17-18; 8:32.

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