Context No. 4035 of 4322 · Ezekiel

Ezekiel 13:13-23: in context

13“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath. There will be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it. 14So I will break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered. It will fall, and you will be consumed in the middle of it. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 15Thus I will accomplish my wrath on the wall, and on those who have plastered it with whitewash. I will tell you, ‘The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it— 16to wit, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace,’” says the Lord GOD.’” 17You, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them, 18and say, “The Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all elbows and make veils for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people and save souls alive for yourselves? 19You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.’ 20“Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against your magic bands, with which you hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms. I will let the souls fly free, even the souls whom you ensnare like birds. 21I will also tear your veils and deliver my people out of your hand; and they will no longer be in your hand to be ensnared. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 22Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive. 23Therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

God pronounces judgment on false prophets who had misled his people, and the image he uses is telling: they were like people who built a flimsy wall and then covered it with whitewash to make it look sound, prophesying peace when there was no peace. Their false assurances were a coat of whitewash over a wall that would not stand.

There is a sober warning here about the danger of false comfort. These prophets were popular because they gave a soothing message, peace, peace, but it was a lie, and it left the people unprepared for the disaster that was actually coming. It is a kind of cruelty dressed as kindness: to tell people what they want to hear rather than the truth they need, to whitewash over a real problem instead of addressing it. God also indicts those whose lies disheartened the righteous and emboldened the wicked. Real love does not whitewash; it does not offer false peace that leaves people unprepared. To speak the truth, even when it is unwelcome, is kinder than a soothing lie.

Do I speak the truth to others in love, even when it is unwelcome, rather than offering the false comfort of a whitewash that leaves people unprepared, and do I refuse the soothing lies that only paper over what must be faced?

Sources

Ezekiel 13:14: "So I will break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground."
Ezekiel 13:16: "The prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace."
Ezekiel 13:22: "With lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous... and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way."