Truth and Retribution (Proverbs 24:28-29)

"Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and deceive not with your lips." Proverbs 24:28, Amplified

Deception is such a vile thing. It violates the very nature of the human community. Why is this even in the Bible? Because we do it and need to be reminded that we are not to do it. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each of you speak the truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another." (Ephesians 4:25, NKJV) Paul was actually quoting from the Old Testament. The prophet Zechariah was speaking of the Holy City of Jerusalem of the future. "These are the things you shall: speak each man the truth to his neighbor, give judgements in your gates for truth, justice, and peace." (Zechariah 18:16, NKJV) If this is the kind of people we are going to be in the New Jerusalem, why should we not hold ourselves to that same standard now?

"Say not, I will do to him as he has dome to me; I will pay the man back for his deed." Proverbs 24:29, Amplified

Retribution is another part of the nature of man. The Bible is riddled with verses concerning our desire to take vengeance for ourselves. "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore, 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:17, 19-21, NKJV) If anyone has our backs, the Lord does. He is the unbiased party in any and every conflict and He knows how to act appropriately concerning vengeance. He sees the circumstances that we do not.

The Truth (Proverbs 23:23)

We are encouraged throughout the Scriptures to always seek out the truth, no matter the cost.

"Buy the truth and sell it not; not only that, but also discernment and judgement, instruction and understanding." Proverbs 23:23, Amplified

When purchasing something, we are essentially committing ourselves to use that item in some fashion. We buy food to eat, toys and video games are to be played with and DVDs are to be watched. Everything that is purchased has a certain intent for the buyer. This is what this verse is speaking to the believer abut truth: seeking it out with the purpose of using it, committing ourselves to the truth that we find.

Committing myself to the truth essentially lost me one of the most lucrative jobs I have ever possessed. However, without that truth, other persons would have been fired for mistakes that management had made. Without that truth I would have never started going back to church again. Without that truth I would have never started this blog. And without that truth I would never be going to school full time.

But the truth is not to be used just willy nilly. With the we must also possess discernment, judgement, instruction and understanding. The truth has the ability to destroy or to build up. Truth is that without Jesus one has no hope but Hell. The other side to that truth is that with Jesus one has the hope of eternal life.

Truth is that outing someone for their misdoings can have a detrimental effect on their lives. But the truth with discernment and understand can bring someone closer to God. The truth is a powerful tool and even becomes more powerful when coupled with instruction and understanding.

Words of Wisdom (Proverbs 22:17-21)

It is so important for us to listen to encouragement and advice from our elders. What needs to be realized is that these are not controlling devices, rather, they are guard rails to keep us on the right track.

"Listen [consent and submit] to the words of the wise and apply your mind to my knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them." Proverbs 22:17-18, Amplified

First, the author encourages the reader to listen and apply themselves to his unique brand of wisdom. Remember that Solomon was the smartest man in the world. But this is the first step that we as believers need to take, consent and submit to the words and advice of those who are smarter and more experienced than ourselves.

We must do this because it will be pleasant for us. Notice that wisdom that comes from the Lord is never detrimental to the believer? But the more that we believe and accept advice and wisdom from the godly, it will be easier for us to confess that same advice and wisdom. If you ever have watched one of those infomercials, the people that they have selling the product believe that it works. If they did not believe, they would never be able to sell any, because one must believe what he is selling. Then, sometimes they have testimonials from customers who have purchased the product talking about how good it is.

None of this would have been possible, however, if the product had not worked. None of this would have worked if someone did not believe in the product. None of this would have been possible if someone had not confessed that belief to others.

"That your trust - belief, reliance, support and confidence - may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even your." Proverbs 22:19, Amplified

Why is he giving this advice to the reader? He is directing the reader to the Lord. This is the great litmus test of advice given. Where does it lead you. Is it something supported by the Bible. Is it something the Lord would approve of? Advice given must always draw us, push us, guide us toward the Lord. If it does not, then the advice is not good.

"Have I not written to you [long ago] excellent things in counsels and knowledge, to make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may give a true answer to those who have sent you?" Proverbs 22:20-21, Amplified

Solomon is reaffirming his reasons to writing these words of wisdom. This world is so full of uncertainty, but the truth never suffers ambiguity. We must receive the truth in order to give an answer to those who ask it of us.

Truth is Treasure (Proverbs 21:6)

To search after something is always a good thing, especially if that thing is treasure. But if we must lie to obtain it, then the gaining of that treasure will mean nothing.

"Securing treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor driven to and fro; those who seek them seek death." Proverbs 21:6, Amplified

A vapor is something that is not solid and is easily moved and hard to obtain. In actuality. a mirage is light playing off of the vapors of heat coming off the sand. The reason that the Bible correlates the seeking of treasure by lying to also seeking after death is that our focus becomes so consumed by that treasure, nothing else matters. nay men have died in a barren desert seeking after the oasis that is really a mirage.

Jesus Himself said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32, NKJV) That truth may not be full of riches, but at least we will be free. Truth never leads to bondage, eventually truth will bring us into the hands of our Father.

Truth (Proverbs 19:27)

There are plenty of warnings in the Bible as well for us to heed. This is one of those warnings.

"Cease, my son, to hear instruction only to ignore it and stray from the words of knowledge." Proverbs 19:27, Amplified

If we cease to listen to instruction, we will begin to stray from knowledge. For within the words of instruction is knowledge. An instructor instructs because he has the knowledge to do so. There are many out there, however, that have placed themselves within the seat of instruction. So how are we to discern who is the real instructor and who is not. You will know who the real instructors are when what they teach is validated by truth. Truth is the factor for all of us. The truth is Jesus Christ. The truth is real. The truth is everything and without it there is nothing.

Fortifying the Heart (Proverbs 17:4)

When our hearts are far from the truth, anything will satisfy our thirsty hearts.

"An evil doer gives heed to wicked lips, and a liar listens to a mischievous tongue." Proverbs 17:4, Amplified

Both persons described in this verse are practicing in the flesh. There is the evil doer. His heart is given over to evil and will be swayed by anything that come his way. And the liar will be swayed by an evil and mischievous tongue. In essence, both will be brought down by their own mode of evil.

This is why we need to seek the truth and fortify ourselves within it. As we practice what is good, wicked lips will have no sway over our hearts because we are founded upon the Son. As we practice the truth, mischievous lips will not tempt us, for we can discern the truth. Fortify your hearts.

Sifting Knowledge (Proverbs 15:7)

It is our job as believers to give out the knowledge that we have. To know a building is on fire an not warn any of the residents is just as bad as starting the fire yourself.

"The lips of the wise disperse knowledge [sifting it as chaff from the grain]; not so the mind of the self-confident and foolish." Proverbs 15:7, Amplified

The Amplified version adds the imagery of the chaff that the New King James does not posses. When reading the verse from the New King James, it seems that the Bible suggests that the wise disperse the knowledge that they have of God and the devil, heaven and hell. But the Amplified takes it a step further to suggest that the wise go as far as to separate the useless knowledge to give people the meat that they need. Chaff is a part of the grain, but it holds no value for the eater. To take that away from the recipient takes away information that need not be sifted through. Think of it like teaching someone how to bake a cake. If you add information about where all the product came from, it detracts from the original purpose of making a cake. The foolish do not do so. They love to convolute things whether they be the truth or not.

The Truth About Mockery (Proverbs 14:9)

Some think it is funny when the wrong things are done. Evil just becomes another game. But the gamble is too high when the wager is your soul.

"Fools make a mock at sine, and sin mocks the fools [who are its victims] - a sin offering made by them only mocks them [bringing them disappointment and disfavor]; but among the upright there is the favor of God." Proverbs 14:9, Amplified

If you are reading the New King James Version of this verse, then you may have noticed that the Amplified Version of this verse is jut a little bit longer. However, I think that it is a good thing, a great point is conveyed here.

Those who are not saved only make a mockery of sin. It becomes a huge joke with them because they do not truly understand life after death and what is awaiting them. But in reality, it is not them who mock sin, rather it is sin that is mocking them. Sin has blinded their eyes to the truth of the Light and deafened their ears to the truth of the Gospel. No, brother, it is not we who are the mockers, but we who are the mocked. That is unless we already have the light of the Gospel within our hearts. If the latter be the case then that still small voice speaks into our ear when we have transgressed. Our sin offering will not be made a mockery, rather it will be accepted because we have the favor of the Lord on our side.

Faithfulness (Proverbs 14:5)

Faithfulness if a term synonymous with truthfulness. As we are truthful so we are also faithful in that we are representing the Lord appropriately.

"A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes out falsehoods." Proverbs 14:5, Amplified

There is not much about this verse that I can elaborate on. One can read it and understand its meaning perfectly.

In reading the word witness, one thinks of the judicial system at first. But our lives are a witness as well to the goodness of the Lord. We must put the truth out there for others to see. If we lie to the world then we lose credibility. Let us be faithful then to the Lord and to mankind and speak only the truth.

Truth and Lies (Proverbs 12:17-22)

There is one way to know the state of a man's heart. You listen to his words. It may take a while, but the intent of a man's heart will be made known by the subject of his conversation.

"He who breathes out truth shows forth righteousness - uprightness and right standing with God; but a false witness utters deceit." Proverbs 12:17, Amplified

I like reading this verse. "He who breathes out truth..." When truth becomes so much a part of our being, we actually live it and breathe it. Truth should be a second nature, just like breathing. But a man of wicked intentions cannot help but to utter evil and deceit. To not be in tune with what the Lord wants for our lives, we then have to align ourselves with something else. If we are not for God then we are for the world, and the world has nothing for us but deceit.

"There are those who speak rashly like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18, Amplified

The book of James has one chapter dedicated to the tongue. It is a small but powerful muscle. To not think about what is going to be said can be like cutting someone to the heart. There are those out there who do not think before they speak, therefore they end up wounding more than making friends.

The wise tongue, however, brings about healing. Now I want whoever reads this to understand that the wise tongue can cut as well. The wise tongue speaks truth, and the truth sometimes hurts. But the cutting of the wise tongue is more like a surgeon's scalpel. The truth needs to cut out the lie.

"Truthful lips shall be established for ever, but a lying tongue is [credited] but for a moment." Proverbs 12:19, Amplified

The truth lasts forever, it does not change. Therefore the truthful person shall benefit from this; he too shall be established forever. But the one who speaks lies may get to where he is going. He may even establish himself for a while. But in the end, the truth will always win out. A man who lies needs to constantly lie to cover up lies, so his foundation becomes shaky because he must remember all the lies he has told. But the man who tells the truth does not need to remember anything he has said, because it is the truth.

"Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but to the counselors of peace is joy." Proverbs 12:20, Amplified

One problem with being deceitful is thinking that everyone one else thinks as you do. But those who bring peace to others, by speaking truth, have joy of heart.

"No [actual] evil, misfortune or calamity shall come upon the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil, misfortune and calamity." Proverbs 12:21, Amplified

This verse is speaking of the deliverance that comes from the Lord. If we were to read the Psalms, we might wonder if this verse is contradictory. David always wrote about the suffering that he endured, but he always spoke of the deliverance and the goodness of the Lord. Paul was another an of God who understood suffering. "And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for his heavenly kingdom." (II Timothy 4:18a, NKJV)

"Lying lips are extremely disgusting and hateful to the Lord, but they who deal truly are His delight." Proverbs 12:22, Amplified

Those who lie are disgusting to the Lord because they go against what the Lord is. He is truth. Those who speak the truth are His delight because they glorify God in their speech and deeds and conversation. The Lord hates lying lips, they are the direct opposite of who He is.

Truth is Devastating (Proverbs 12:15-16)

In the eyes of a fool, his ways are always right. I know that in your lifetime you have come across those people who you just cannot get to change their minds. I am not talking about standing up for what you believe in because this is admirable. I am talking about when you know that person is wrong, and everyone else knows that they are wrong, but nothing can be done or said to convince them otherwise.

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise." Proverbs 12:15, Amplified

It is okay to think that you are right. There is no sin in thinking that you are right. It is when we are proven wrong that we must acclimate to the truth. Listen to that wise counsel when it comes your way. Remember, wisdom is knowledge applied. Take that new knowledge and apply it to your being. Truth is devastating, it radically changes you.

"The fool's wrath is quickly and openly known; but a prudent man ignores an insult." Proverbs 12:16, Amplified

The way a foolish and a wise man deal with daily life is vastly different. For instance, a prudent (or wise) man ignores insults that may be thrown at him. The heart knows the contents of a man. In other words, you know who you are, why defend it by hurling back insults? But the foolish man knows what is in his own heart. The truth is a devastating thing, it radically exposes.