Nobody actually says, “Tell us lies.” (Except perhaps Fleetwood Mac.). But our actions and attitudes invite – even demand – that our leaders tell us lies. However, this does not change the truth of God’s Word!
Scripture:
Isaiah, chapters 29-31; James, chapter 1
Isaiah 30:8-17 (NLT):
Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the Lord’s instructions. They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’”
This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel: “Because you despise what I tell you and trust instead in oppression and lies, calamity will come upon you suddenly – like a bulging wall that bursts and falls. In an instant it will collapse and come crashing down. You will be smashed like a piece of pottery – shattered so completely that there won’t be a piece big enough to carry coals from a fireplace or a little water from the well.”
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you! One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.
Observations:
“Tell Us Lies”
It’s probably hard for us to imagine that the people of Israel – God’s people – would ever tell the seers to “stop seeing visions.” God spoke powerfully to his people through visions, and through the voices of the prophets. Oh, yeah, the prophets: They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us about what is right.” But it didn’t even stop there. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’” We would never get to that point! We would never tell God’s messengers what they told the prophets! Right?
“Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’” As I type those words, I think of all the ways that people in our day are saying those very things. Churches and pastors abandon the teaching of Scripture in favor of relevance or tolerance. Don’t tell us about what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies.
“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4, NLT).
“Write This Down”
It’s interesting that God begins this passage by telling Isaiah to “write this down.” Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the Lord’s instructions. God’s words – his Word – stands forever. “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved” (Matthew 5:18).
God’s Word is written down for us. It’s still true. People may try to silence it, and silence those who proclaim it. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’ But God’s word does not change. We do not change it by ignoring it or silencing it. And those of us who call ourselves by the name of Christ must continue to proclaim and live by the truth of God’s word, because that is the only hope for a broken world. As God announces in this passage, Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. Our hope is not in earthly power, or popular approval. Our hope is in Jesus!
Application:
“Tell Us Lies”
The people’s response to God’s call is amazing: “No, we will get our help from Egypt.” Egypt? The same Egypt whom God had routed hundreds of years before, when the people of Israel were in bondage there? Even though Egypt may have seemed powerful compared to Israel and Judah, its power was an illusion. “What sorrow awaits for those who look to Egypt for help, trusting their horses, chariots and charioteers and depending on the strength of human armies instead of looking to the Lord, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 31:1).
So what’s the application? We’re not looking to help from Egypt; instead, we look for help to politicians and government officials. We expect that different laws will change people’s hearts. Unfortunately, we’re ignoring the witness of history; laws don’t change people’s hearts. That’s not just our history; it’s the story of the Old Testament. If any system of laws could have changed people, the laws which God gave Israel would – but they didn’t.
We need to stop asking people to tell us lies. Oh, we’re not actually be saying that. But when we follow and applaud those who tell us what we want to hear, our actions are telling them to tell us lies. God’s people need to be people of the truth. We should demand that our leaders – both religious and political – tell us the truth. And we should keep our trust firmly fixed on the Holy One of Israel.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for reminding us that your word is true. The world is full of people who will tell us lies, tell us what we want to hear. They want us to trust in them, rather than in you. Help us to be people of the truth. We come to you; show us your love and compassion as you promise to do. Amen.
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