For our offenses are many in your sight,
    and our sins testify against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
    and we acknowledge our iniquities:
13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord,
    turning our backs on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,
    uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice is driven back,
    and righteousness stands at a distance;
truth has stumbled in the streets,
    honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth is nowhere to be found,
    and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

We are, apparently, now living in a ‘post-truth’ world. Or so we are told. Isaiah’s words, then, have a contemporary ring to them: a prophetic relevance to our own times. I think there will be many people who have never read this ancient prophetic work, who would nevertheless entirely agree with the statement: ”truth is fallen in the street” (King James Version). The ‘English Standard Version’ renders this: ” for truth has stumbled in the public squares”.

As I write this, we are approaching a General Election in the UK, and I believe many people will be feeling: ”Truth is nowhere to be found” (15a). We may be right; we may be wrong about this, of course. My perception is that many good-hearted people want to believe their politicians, but can’t help but think that they are repeatedly and regularly lied to. Politics sometimes seems like a sophisticated ‘sleight of hand’ act, designed to get our vote. I think many of us would just like to believe that our leaders (or prospective leaders) are telling the truth – even if it is unpalatable. Level with us.

There is a sense of dishonesty hanging over our political system, and I’m sure this is not just restricted to the UK. It is sad, because it is hugely unfair to the MP’s who say what they mean and mean what they say. But rather like the non-smoking teachers in my old school staff room, they have the smell of other people’s stale smoke on their clothing. They are unfairly affected by that thick blue haze of deception lingering over politics.

PRAYER: Lord, please have mercy on us. Forgive all the lies we see, and those we ourselves have told. O God, in our time, please will you raise up leaders of righteousness, integrity and truth.