Ezekiel 19 is a lamentation or funeral song. It is directed to the princes of Israel. The people of Israel are in exile in Babylon because they refused to humble themselves before God and turn from their idol worship and rebellion against God. It is right for this lamentation to be addressed to the princes or leaders of Israel because they were the ones responsible for ignoring the words of the prophets God sent to warn them.

The fact that the leaders ignored God’s warnings does not make the rest of the people of Israel innocent. Everyone is responsible to God for their own faith. Most of the people went along with the rebellion of the princes against God because that is what they wanted to do. The people could have done what is right, even if the princes were unwilling to.

The problem with doing what is right when the leaders refuse to is that it could put you into a difficult position with the leaders. A leader who is determined that what they believe is right may insist that everyone else agree with them, even when they are in obvious rebellion against God. The Bible has many examples of people being punished by the leaders when they stood up for the truth.

Each of us must answer to someone in this world. It could be within your family, your job, or the government. If you are exceptionally blessed, all those groups will be led by God-honoring people. That is probably not the case with all of them. I live in California. Our government actively promotes things that are not only dishonoring of God – He would call them an abomination.

So, how do we live and lead in a godless and sometimes hostile culture. We do it by letting our light shine. That’s what Jesus told His disciples as He was preparing them to go out into a godless world that loved the darkness and hates the light. We let the light shine by knowing the truth of God’s Word – by believing it is the power of God unto salvation – by living it out in faith and obedience.

It is possible that standing in faith will lead to problems with those leaders who won’t. That’s where trusting God comes in. All through the Bible we are exhorted to maintain a reverential awe of God that is greater than our fear of men. In Psalm 23, King David was inspired to tell us that God leads us through the valley of death. The word that has always ministered to me in that verse is the word ‘through’. As we follow God in faith and obedience, we may occasionally find ourselves in a situation that feels like a ‘valley of death’. Trust God and continue to follow Him as He leads you through to the other side of that dark valley.

Ezekiel was given a funeral song for the princes of Israel because they were determined to go their own way and rebel against God. That same song could be sung for the leaders in the world around us today. As they walk in darkness, they are leading others into greater darkness. It is up to God’s people to walk in the truth and to let their light shine. That is the only way those who might escape the darkness will have any hope. Jesus, help us to walk in Your light!

Read: Ezekiel 18:1-19:14; Hebrews 9:1-10; Psalm 106:32-48; Proverbs 27:10