Proverbs 26:28 Pats on the back

²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth works ruin.

You know how some verses are so packed with truth that they are like little packages of dynamite? Yup, this is one of 'em!

In this short proverb, we have two different kinds of lies, and some details about each one. First, a "lying tongue" . . . that's the out-in-the-open kind of lying. The kind that you get when the person isn't worried about covering up the falsehood that they are distributing. Some people call this slander. And Solomon is correct -- the usual motivation for this kind of lying is hatred of the other person.

The liar can be hating on us because they are jealous of something we have . . . anything from a spiritual gift to a material blessing. They could be spiteful because of a real or imagined slight from us. They could just be hating us because they don't like the fact that we are Christians, and that we are not ashamed to admit it.
Whatever the reason, they lie about us because they hope to hurt us.

The second kind of liar is one who flatters us and gushes overly complimentary things about us; we've looked at this kind of conversation before. This liar could be motivated by trying to "set us up" to take a fall. They may hope to get us all puffed up with pride, so that then we'll make mistakes and ruin our Christian testimony. They may be hoping to accomplish something or get something from us -- and they hope to accomplish this with deceit and flattery.

It's one thing to give someone a "pat-on-the-back" compliment, and show our approval of something they have accomplished. I think we all know that flattery, the kind that works ruin, is something different. If we are too interested in hearing good things about ourselves, we leave ourselves open for this kind of cheating and lying to ruin us. If we are content to know that we are doing the right things in our lives, and that our Father sees our accomplishments and is pleased, then we are safe from the flatterer's smooth words.

And of course, for Christians, there should be no room in our conversations with others for lies. We shouldn't magnify the truth, or whitewash it, either. We should avoid twisting it around in our presentation, to suit our agenda.
Ephesians 4:25 tells us:  

"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."

We can go ahead and enjoy that pat on the back we've received, but we shouldn't be so anxious to get another one, that we fall prey to the flatterers.  And let's make certain that we just speak the truth, in graciousness and kindness.

Proverbs 26:23-26 Masters of disguise

²³ Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent lips with an evil heart.
²⁴ Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
²⁵ Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.
²⁶ Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Seems like just yesterday the Halloween candy and costumes were starting to be displayed in the stores. (Now the Christmas decor is featured -- I always wonder what happens to Thanksgiving. Sorry, I'm digressing here.) As I walked through a discount store, I chuckled to hear a youngster exclaiming over a costume, and how cool it would be . . . no one would recognize him in his disguise!

Solomon is talking here about some other people who use disguises. People that we need to be wary of. Masters of disguise, and masters of deception. And that makes them able to inflict a world of hurt on us, if we are not careful.

We have examples of these people in the scriptures. 
Joab, the commander of David's armies, greeted his relative Amasa cordially, even acting like he was going to kiss him in greeting (as was the custom). Amasa didn't realize there was a weapon in Joab's other hand, and Joab thrust him through with his sword, and killed him. 
Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss, as well, turning him over to the authorities by that mark of affection.
Hatred and spite, even a murderous spirit -- all disguised very well.

Solomon notes that their deception is just like a coating of silver dross (the impurities from the refining process, it is still shiny) on an earthenware vessel. It looks good on the outside, but it really is not valuable, like true friendship. He tells us to be careful of the charming speech that may hide hatred and spite.

The person who has contempt for us, who despises us, will make the greatest noise about how wonderful we are, but talk down about us, behind our back. Beware of someone whose words and actions just don't add up --- do they talk a lot about being our friend, but have little desire to spend time with us? Do they make a show of talking about how fortunate we are, and then act jealous because of those blessings? Do they seem to do things that seem a little off kilter, almost betrayal, then brag to us about how they "have our back"? 

Be cautious of those who seem overly affectionate and effusive with their compliments and approval. If it seems exaggerated, be careful. Use that wisdom from the Lord to discern if they are truly friendly to you, or if it is a deception. Your caution may help you avoid being hurt by a master of disguise.

Proverbs 25:18 Choose your weapons

¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
    is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. 

Some of the weapons of Solomon's era are a little unfamiliar to us now.  The King James has the word "maul" as the first one in this verse; the NIV translates it as a "club." Now, I can tell you what a maul is like, since I have used it before.  (No, no, not in battle.) Today's maul is a sledgehammer-like item; the business end of it has a hammer on one side, and an edge similar to an axe on the other. We use it for splitting logs. Some folks use it for hitting tent spikes, or some other use where one needs to hit something VERY hard.

We all know what a sword looks like. Some are sharp on one side, some on two sides. It can be light and thin, like a fencing rapier, or heavy as a calvaryman's weapon. 

An arrow? They've been useful for thousands of years. Many people enjoy collecting arrowheads, for the different shapes and sizes they find. They are all for the same purpose, though --- whether hunting game or a human enemy, the arrow can pierce the body and cause death.

So, when we give a false witness about someone, we may bludgeon them, cut them, or pierce them. Perhaps not literally, on the outside where all can see . . . but definitely on the inside. And it doesn't have to be only that we tell an untruth about someone. It can be if we slander their motives as well. The "why" they did what they did --- whatever they did, it was for an entirely different reason than what you might think --- and their motives were not good! 

We may not sit around dreaming up wild tales and lies to tell others about someone we all know. Many times, though, for Christians the problem is the stating of things we do not know against a person based on our own negative assumptions. We must beware of what we assume without knowledge; we must be even more careful of what we spread around, without first-hand knowledge. This is one of Satan's biggest and best weapons in the fight of good and evil. 

Instead of choosing one of those three weapons, maybe we'd better choose the "sword of the Spirit" and wage war on Satan, instead of on each other.

Is it ever ok to tell a lie?

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A recap of yesterday....

I asked if it is ever OK to tell a lie, then I gave you a couple of passages to study. Let me review those very quickly.

Joshua 2:1-16. Rahab, the prostitute, hid the spies, but then lied when she was questioned. Rahab and her family were spared because she protected God's people.

In Exodus 1, we find that Pharaoh commanded that the Hebrew midwives murder any male baby at birth. In verse 20 it says that God was good the midwives for doing this.

Let's see...Jacque gave a response yesterday (Thanks for your input Jacque!) that said this , "The Ten Commandments have been mentioned, but remember when the question was asked of Jesus...and He said the "greatest" Law was to "love the Lord your God ...and to love your neighbor..." He said that if we keep these two commandments, we have kept the whole of the Law. In my finite mind, that means that the midwives and Rahab put their love and fear (reverence) of God first. By doing that, they "kept" all of the Law."


Before I give my thoughts, let's look at a few more verses. There are many many many Bible verses about lying. I had to really trim my list to keep it to a manageable size for you all. Here are some that I feel are the most powerful: ( they are in KJV because I used a cheater list. At least I am being honest! Saved me tons of typing!!)


Leviticus 6:1-4, "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour…or hath deceived his neighbour…and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty," (How many times lying mentioned just in this passage alone?)

Psalms 101:7, "He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight." 

Proverbs 6:16-19, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."(note...lies are mentioned TWICE here!)


Ephesians 4:25, "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."

Colossians 3:9, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;"

Revelation 21:8, "…and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:"


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My thoughts? Well, let me ask you a couple of questions.

In the case of Rahab...could not God have blinded the eyes of the soldiers if Rahab had been truthful? Not being a person of God, I am sure that she really never even thought about it one way or another, and God knew that. He blessed her for fearing Him the best she knew how at the time. But I feel if she would have been truthful, God would have taken care of the Israelites in probably a much more powerful way.

In the case of the midwives...what if? What if they stood before Pharaoh and refused to murder the boys? There was Daniel. He was thrown into a den of lions because he displayed a PUBLIC fear of the Lord...and what happened?
How about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? Because of their obedience and PUBLIC fear of the Lord, God was able to show His power in a great and mighty way there as well.

So, now what do you think? Now you've got something to ponder over the weekend.

What's the right answer? Well, we each will form our own opinion. Jacque had some good points. If you were to ask me personally, I am sure that you figured out by now that I hold to the opinion that it is NEVER ok to sin against God and his commandments. Scripture is very clear time and time again that lying is wrong. God's will always happens. He'll work through sin if He has to. But when He can work through truth the results are always much more mighty and powerful.

Proverbs 14 : 5 A breath of hot air

Here's our verse today . . .

"A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies."

This verse is so simple. It kinda conjures up old movies or television shows where the person on the witness stand is definitely lying -- come on, you know you've watched them! Earlier in the plot, you saw someone do something, and now here they are telling lies about it. But wait! The wily attorney saves the day by rooting out the truth, and exposing the lies. Justice is served, and happy endings are all around.

I thought it was interesting that "utter" in the verse has a root that means "to puff, or blow with the breath" . . . not just talk, or speak. Have you ever seen someone who is caught in a lie? They huff and puff, and get really defensive, and sometimes lie more just to cover up the first one! And a false witness is sometimes a person who is a habitual liar -- one to whom lying comes "as easy as breathing." As easy as exhaling, or blowing with the breath, according to Solomon.

I guess that's another good reason for us to heed Paul's instruction in Eph 4:25  "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another."

Proverbs 13: 5 - 6 Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave . . .

. . . When first we practice to deceive.

That quote above is from an old tale by Sir Walter Scott. It is pretty profound --- when we deceive, or lie, it is often not a "one shot deal" for us. One lie has to be backed up by another and explained by one more, then leads to a fourth one based on the first . . . isn't it so much easier, just to tell the truth? Then we don't have to keep inventing, shoring up, explaining our lie. And how many times have you heard on the news that the police are questioning someone, and their story doesn't seem to be "consistent" with their earlier words? Often, after that, you will hear that their first story was indeed a fabrication. Hmmmm, it seems it is also actually easier to remember, when we tell the truth!!

Our first verse today says that in contrast to the righteous person who hates lies (and loves the truth), the wicked person is loathsome. In my Bible, the root of that word is actually "stink" --- did you ever stop to think of what our sin seems like to a holy God? Ouch!  It also says the wicked will come to "shame" and that word encompasses a lot of meanings: shame, blush, disappointment. In Daniel 12:2 we see that the wicked will finally awake, "some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Have you ever stopped to think about how illogical sin is? We are told over and over again that it will not profit us, and we have even seen in our own lives (and the lives of others, too) that it ends poorly, but we choose to sin, time and time again!!

In verse 6 we read that the righteous can be secure . . . those that deal honestly in all of their ways, and deal sincerely with both God and with man. That reliance on God will keep them from the temptations of Satan, and that integrity will preserve them from "the reproaches and injuries of evil men, which shall not fasten upon them, to do them any real mischief." (Matthew Henry)

I wanted to call our attention to two verses in Psalms that seemed to fit after reading the second verse we studied today: Psalm 25:21 is a real comfort to us: "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on thee."  And Psalm 32:7a:  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble . . ."