Hiding In The Dark Is Unrighteous Intent

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?”’ (Isaiah 29:15)

The context is from a series of ‘woes’ God provides through Isaiah, and Isaiah 29 focuses on ‘David’s City’, which is Jerusalem or more broadly the territory of Judah.   The governments of the kingdom of Judah after David, with some exceptions, were corrupt and not always Godly – some were downright evil.  Kings hid their plans from the people, government officials hid their plans from the king, and everyone who did evil often hid their debauchery until it was too big or too widespread to hide.

People hide their actions when they know their actions are wrong, immoral or embarrassing.  Some things can be Righteous yet embarrassing or there is a need to be kept private, like a medical condition; however, if those come out into the open, understanding and concern come out, not condemnation.  Most hidden actions, especially by governments, are done to avoid public scrutiny.  As in Isaiah’s time, today nations, including the United States, are less open and try to hide things from their citizens that are unrighteous and immoral. 

We see more evidence of our government trying to hide where illegal immigrants are being housed before being secretly transported around the country; Congress passing spending for foreign aid on a Sunday when many are in church or watching a football game; a bill that cannot be read until it is passed.  Such work done in secret is often done with sinister motives that can be condemned, not for the good of the people but for the good of political self-interest at the expense of the people.

Jesus does not work that way; Isaiah and the other prophets in the Old Testament pointed to Him, and those who could discern the Truth realized who He was, the promised Messiah.  The New Testament is all about Jesus, open on how He wants us to live and obey, to share the Gospel and avoid the pitfalls of sin.  Revelation opens us to the knowledge of what will occur at what we call ‘the End of Times’, and our endless future with Jesus for all eternity. 

God’s message is open, clear, and concise to those who accept Him, there is no ‘hidden agendas’ from His people who are His children.  We as Believers need to be open in our dealings, and our work and efforts should be Righteous and transparent in motive.  We may be condemned by those who do are unrighteous, but it is not because we hide but because we are open and honest in what we do for Christ.

Where there are efforts to hide actions, these are with rare exception efforts to hide evil intent.  Pray for our nations’ leaders, especially those in the United States, to work in the ‘son-shine’, to be Righteous and to be open about the intent of their actions.