Truth Telling is a Foundation for Character

“[He that] speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.” (Pr 12:17 AV)

Pretty easy to understand.  Lying is deceit.  Truth is righteousness.  No confusion there.  I think Solomon meant something a bit deeper.  It is obvious that those who tell the truth are righteous in their words.  But what Solomon may be eluding to is a righteousness not limited to the words at hand.  Perhaps he means that those prone to tell the truth are also prone to generally live right.  Telling the truth is a good barometer into a person’s character.  If his habit is to tell the truth, he may have other righteous habits as well.  Those who are prone to tell lies usually live a lie.  Telling the truth is a foundation upon which a person’s character can be built. 

Many years ago, I ran a restaurant.  To advance, an employee had to show up a bit early and be ready to clock in when they were scheduled.  They could not clock in and then go to the restroom, get their uniform on, and prep themselves to work.  They had to be ready when the time to work arrived.  I also gave responsibilities to see if they could work unsupervised.  It might be prep work or cleaning duties.  Checking on them meant I could trust them with more responsibilities.  At the end of the night, if work was not done even though the employee said it was, the employee was on notice.  Often, we would get a call in and the employee was not sick at all.  I remember having to make those phone calls.  Thy employee would call in sick and I would wait a few hours.  I would call the employee’s home and ask for the person.  A parent or sibling would tell me they were at a concert or over at a friend's house.  What we found was that if they lied once, they lied more than once.  If they were unreliable in small things, they could not be trusted in larger things.  Lying about the obscure means they could not be trusted in private.

We teach our children to always tell the truth.  We do this because telling the truth is a foundation for character in other areas of life.  We teach our children to tell the truth because a liar cannot be trusted with anything.  We teach our children to tell the truth because the consequences of lying far outweigh the short-term benefit that lies may produce.  I think Solomon is teaching his children a good habit for life.  Telling the truth is more important to character development than we may think.  A person who is honest with his words will be honest with his behavior.  They go hand in hand.

That Special Place

“O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.” (Ps 42:6 AV)

With a bit of research, we might understand from where David gains encouragement.  Most writers place the context of this psalm during David’s flight from Absalom.  David and those with him fled over Jordan to the east.  The problem with this idea is that David never went that far north.  At least the Bible doesn’t say he did.  Rather, David crossed Jordan and then crossed the brook Jabbok.  That places him halfway down the Jordan river valley.  Hermon and Mizar are much further north.  They are north of the sea of Galilee in modern-day Lebanon.  The land of Jordan is easily understood as the Jordan river valley.  The Hermonites are the mountains that make up mount Hermon.  The hill Mizar is very obscure and most assume it to be a smaller peak associated with the Hermonite Mountain Range.  The Hermonites are a year-round snow-peaked mountain range.  This range is a source for the sea of Galilee and the Jordan River.  From the peaks of the Hermonites, one might take in a pastoral sight of the entire Jordan River valley.  Among the snow-peaked mountains, the saint could escape into a peaceful and picturesque place where God would feel far closer than any other place.

Doing a cursory search of images seen from Mount Hermon, especially the Jordan river valley, is difficult.  The Sea of Galilee can be seen as well as northern parts of Israel.  If David was looking to the north while crossing the Jordan, he was over 75 miles away from Mount Hermon.  Therefore, we know he is not referring to the revolt of Absalom.  This means only one thing.  The place of which David speaks is a special place for him.  Looking at images of and from Mount Hermon, I can certainly understand.  The peak is just under 10,000 feet.  Which explains why he mentions the little hill of Mizar.  At 10,000 feet the air is pretty thin.  David is speaking of a hiding place where he meets God.  A place of immeasurable beauty.  A place of gentle breezes of cool mountain air.  A place of cold mountain streams that fall below as they fill the sea of Galilee.  A place that sheep might be heard, but the bustle of life is not.  A place not suited for warfare, but a pastoral place suited for reflection and quiet.  One can imagine the thoughts of life pouring from his mind and the stresses of running a kingdom are left to flow with the waters under his feet.

I am reminded of late that managing stress is very important.  Stress is not always a bad thing.  Sometimes stress forces us the make decisions that need to be made by we are reticent to do so.  However, there are stresses caused unnecessarily.  Worries and anxieties whose answers are in the scriptures.  We have stress because we lack faith.  We have stress because we harbor sin.  There has to be a special place where God is nearer to our consciousness.  He is always near.  He never leaves.  But we can become so overwhelmed by other things of life that we forget how close God is.  Necedah wildlife refuge was one of those places for me.  A vast marshland covered in coulees provided a place of quiet reflection.  Even with hunters crawling all over the place, there was more alone time than connection with people.  It was there that I could pour out my mind and heart onto a vast marsh and leave it there.  David had his place.  He had several places.  We need our place as well.

Strength In The Way

“The way of the LORD [is] strength to the upright: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity.” (Pr 10:29 AV)

Our wise commentators are applying this several ways.  Yet they agree there is credence in other views.  One suggestion is that as the upright are in the way, they grow stronger.  The other is before the journey.  The way of the LORD is strength, therefore the upright are in it.  Either way, there is strength in the way of the LORD.  Some suggest the way is the way of the law.  Or the way of wide choices.  Others include the entire providence of God. As long as we are in the perfect will of God, strength will accompany us.  I think both suggestions have merit.  For the sake of our meditation, we will consider that those who are upright, yet weak in some way, receive strength has the walk in the wisdom and providence of God.   This writer noticed the absence of the word ‘in’ prior to the phrase ‘the way’.  This leans me to believe our observation is correct.  While the upright remains in the way, the result is strength.  To insert the word ‘in’ prior to the phrase ‘the way’ would suggest the upright, needing strength, should find and continue in the way.

Still hunting through the foothills of western NY is no small matter.  There are hills and valleys.  There is undergrowth and wild vines.  There are blowdowns and thick vegetation.  There are many obstacles along the way.  However, if the hunter takes a moment to study the woods, he will find an interesting pattern.  The wildlife that lives there knows the best way to navigate through the woods with the least work possible.  Ease of travel and safety from predators are their biggest concerns.  The woodsman will notice a game trail on a ridgeline.  Or a game trail along snow-covered marshland.  He knows that the animals that travel through those woods have done so for generations.  They know better than he does the best way to get from one place to another.  If the hunter uses the path already laid down by those who have gone there before, he can go further and longer.  If, on the other hand, he decides to blaze his own trail, he will soon run out of strength and time.  Staying in the wisest way conserves energy, reduces injury, and keeps the traveler safe.

But I think Solomon meant more than simply choosing the right path.  I think Solomon is sharing that faith and obedience, while traveling the hard path of life, is the way to preserve and renew strength.  As long as we strive in the perfect will of God, we will find strength to continue.  If we are weak in the way of life, leaving it is not the best choice.  Just like the woods, if we find ourselves in need of strength, the worst thing we could do is to leave the path.  Remaining in the path is the best way to grow stronger.  I have found myself in this very situation many times.  Usually at the end of a long day’s hunt, I am tired, sweaty, and exhausted.  Trying to take a shortcut to my car or cabin always results in more work.  Not less.  Staying on the path while looking at the finish line is the easiest way to find the strength to finish.  So, stay on the line.  Stay on the path.  Don’t deviate simply because we cannot go another step.  The trail has already been blazed.  There is no need to reinvent the wheel.  Just stay the course and the LORD will renew your strength.

Trust or Mistrust. Only Two Options

“Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” (Ps 40:4 AV)

There is a choice here.  There are only two options.  We either trust the LORD or listen to those who do not.  There is no middle ground.  I am reminded of late the difficulty that faith truly is.  Faith is difficult.  Trust does not come as a whim.  As a child, we have a heart full of trust.  We trust our parents.  We trust our teachers.  We trust those who know better.  But over time, they disappoint.  We placed upon them the expectation of perfection.  Because they are human, they failed.  When they did, the natural inclination of trust waned.  Vulnerability and humility are part of a child’s nature.  As we grow into adulthood and learn to be self-sufficient, determining our life’s direction, humility and vulnerability do not come easy.  We have the failures of those whom we trusted coupled with the ability to determine our own direction and faith is a hard step to take.  Our perception is that self-reliance is safer than trust.  But as we see above, there are only two directions a soul can take.  He will either make God his trust, or he will show deference to those who do not.  Those who do not trust the LORD live lives built on lies.  There is no other choice.

Pinocchio is a well knows story written by Carlo Collodi of Florence, Italy in 1833.  It tells of a puppet whose name is Pinocchio.  He was carved and created by Geppetto, a puppeteer.  One night, Pinocchio comes to life but materially remains a puppet of wood and cloth.  His deepest desire is to become a real boy.  He begins to question his father’s judgment.  He begins to reject the rules laid down for him by a loving father.  One adventure after another leads him further from his creator.  The story escalates until Pinocchio is taken to an island that promises the freedom to indulge in all things a little boy could want.  This indulgence eventually turns the boys into donkeys from which they can never recover.  Seeing the eventual end of his decision, Pinocchio escapes into the sea.  He was swallowed by a whale.  Jumping in the water ends the curse of becoming a donkey, but he is far from home.  The whale, which seemed like a negative consequence turned out the be the means by which Pinocchio was returned to his village.  When reunited with Geppetto, Pinocchio confesses his faults and promises to trust and obey his father.  Immediately the magic happens, and he becomes a real boy.  He got his wish because he learned by experience that trust was worth the risk.

Faith is what separates mankind from all other beings.  It separates us from the animals because they do not possess the ability to reason and trust.  They are instinctive.  This instinct serves them well.  Until it doesn’t.  Angels see God by sight.  They do not need to act in faith because, as Paul writes, when sight is there, faith is no longer needed.  With faith or trust, risk is involved.  So too is humility.  These two do not come easy.  I do not make light of it.  We often use the phrase ‘a crisis of faith’.  That is a good way to put it.  We are pushed to our limits.  Then we have a choice.  Either we will trust our all-knowing and all-powerful creator, or we will trust the opinions and thinking of those who do not.  It is an almost impossible decision.  To trust when we have had a pattern of unfortunate experiences is life that would scream against it, is difficult.  But there is no other way.  There is no other source of peace and purpose.  It is either trust God, or trust those who do not trust God.  Just remember, the latter is built on lies and the former on truth.

Foreknowledge of God's Mercy

“And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I [am] the LORD their God.” (Le 26:44 AV)

So much for covenant theology.  But I digress.  The promise to Israel here is comforting.  Not just for them, but for anyone who has a relationship with the Father.  God may have to correct, but He will not utterly cast off.  God may have to chasten, but He will not destroy.  Why would He?  To what end?  If we are adopted into the family of God, what would motivate a loving God to cease His filial relationship with His children?  Nothing!  As Paul said, “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ro 8:39 AV) The verse above is a comfort that no matter how much we mess up, the love of God remains constant.  He will never leave nor forsake.  He will not destroy what cost Him His Son to attain.  We are secure because God is a God of mercy.

I know I have mentioned this before, but in my life, these events are very profound.  As a pastor, I have helped many families with wayward children.  Some cases were very extreme.  There was teen pregnancy, drug use, crime, and worse.  What amazed me was watching parents as they loved their children in spite of what they had done.  Substance abuse is perhaps the hardest of sins to deal with.  Substance abuse involves far more than using.  It involves deception, victimization of those closest to you, and breaking serious laws.  It becomes a pattern.  Mom and Dad bail them out, clean them up, and put them on the right path only to see them fall right back into it.  This happens over years.  Soon, those closest to the user become resentful.  It is my experience that at least one parent never loses hope and will always love.  Sometimes both.  But always at least one.  It is a beautiful sight to see.

God is no less loving.  What a comfort it was for the LORD to tell Israel prior to their failure that He would always love them!  They didn’t have to wonder in the midst of their troubles.  They knew beforehand that God would be merciful.  This had to make their captivity a bit easier to endure.  Praise the LORD that we know of His lovingkindness and mercy before He has to exercise His judgment.  Praise the LORD, our Father, who is kind and understanding.  Praise the LORD that we know that before our lives are thrown into chaos.  Praise the LORD that we can see the end from the beginning!  Praise God for who and what He is.

Details are Helpful

“For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” (Ps 38:18 AV)

A great attitude to have.  David may have had his faults, but one thing you could never accuse him of was a lack of conscience for his sins.  David was quick to confess and forsake.  To say that David felt bad would be an understatement.  When David asked for mercy, typically it was for the sake of those who were affected by his sin.  He prayed and fasted for the child born to Bathsheba.  He prayed for the nation when he numbered them against God’s will.  David sought mercy for the priests at Nob.  David’s habit was to intercede for those affected by wrong choices on his part.  I cannot say for certain, but the times when David sought mercy for himself before any others seem rare or non-existent.  As a rule of life, the verse above was typical for David.  He genuinely felt badly that his sin had adverse effects on those around him.  He felt bad that he had offended the only God he loved.  He felt shame at failure and strove to improve as a man.  David is a great example of an imperfect man working hard to be the man God wanted him to be.

Declaring our iniquity is the hardest part.  We are not talking about a cursory confession.  No.  When David declared his sin, he didn’t couch it in ambiguous terms.  David got down to the nitty-gritty.  When he declared his sin, he stated the full fault and even the nature of that sin toward God.  There is a legal concept we have in American courts call allocution.  An allocution is a sworn statement by the defendant offered to the court describing the crime committed, the means by which it was committed, and the cause for committing the crime.  Allocution is usually part of a plea deal to ensure the defended is indeed guilty of the crime and that a complete understanding of his actions is in evidence.  Included in the allocution is a statement of remorse intended to help the victims with closure but also intended to plea for mercy from the court.  This allocution must be detailed.  A simple statement of guilt is insufficient.  The court is looking for a fully informed confession and a state of mind able to confess to the crime in question.  If the allocution is not satisfactory, the court has the right to reject it and force the case to trial.  The important thing here is the detail required for an allocution to be accepted.

Often, we go to prayer confessing sin in a general and ambiguous way.  What we do not do is take the time to allocate to the sin at hand.  We don’t spend time sharing with God what He already knows.  Just because He is all-knowing doesn’t mean we have come to terms with what we have done.  Allocution is more for our benefit than it is His.  When David confessed his sin, it wasn’t a general statement.  He didn’t admit to adultery without the details of the affair.  He described what he had done, and that it was wicked.  David didn’t simply state that a poor decision resulted in the death of the priests and Nob.  He stated that he occasioned the death of the innocent.  David did not merely state that a census was taken against the will of God.  He confessed that he was the one who ordered it even against godly counsel not to.  In other words, when David confesses his sin, he does so in detail.  Right down to why God has the right to inflict whatever punishment He deems appropriate.  This is the difference between David and most saints.  David isn’t afraid to confront the ugly side of his life.  He is not timid when attacking his own character.  He gets it all out in the open.  Then he falls upon the grace of God for forgiveness and restoration.

Rebuke As Love

“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.” (Le 19:17 AV)

This is a fascinating verse.  The mark of hatred is remaining silent toward another who is in sin.  Some commentators assume the sin was or is directed toward the silent one of the beginning of the verse.  In other words, if we have been offended by another person’s sin and we do not speak up, we in essence hate our brother.  Not because we have been wronged.  Rather, because we don’t say anything.  However, there is a more general possibility.  If they do not rebuke a person living in obvious sin, then God considers us in hatred against to offender.  If we do not say something when we see something, we do not genuinely love.  I believe the latter understanding to be more accurate.  If we see someone living and acting wickedly and ignore it when we can intervene, then we cannot say we have love for others.

Confrontation is not comfortable.  At least for most of us, it is not comfortable.  For the most part, we avoid it.  We don’t want to tell someone they are in the wrong.  That is why witnessing for Jesus is so difficult.  It is difficult telling someone they are utterly wicked and deserve the torments of hell forever.  These truths rarely go over well.  Most people do not like to confront, nor do they like to be confronted.  But saying nothing causes harm to a situation that might have changed.  I love doctors.  But doctors are often not blunt enough.  If there is something we are doing that is causing our poor health, I would hope they would respect their profession enough to say something.  Our childhood pediatrician was like that.  He shot from the hip.  He was blunt.  If he thought my mother was making mistakes, he would not hold back.  He would give her a dressing down right there in the exam room with her child(ren) present.  In fact, he preferred it that way.  He could read our mother the riot act, and by our presence, we got it, too.  Believe it or not, we children did not take exception to the tongue lashing my Mom received.  Deep down in our hearts, we knew the doctor was right, and it was more our fault than our Mom’s fault.  Praise the LORD, he was professional enough and cared enough for his patients that he did not hold back the truth.

Solomon says that if we see someone engaged in harmful sin, it us our obligation to rebuke.  If someone is engaged in destructive behavior, to say nothing is to hate the person.  To say something when we see something means we love the individual and are saving them from a multitude of sins.  Most of the time, rebuke is rejected.  Most of the time it is mocked.  But ‘most of the time’ should not exclude ‘some of the time’.  Even if we are mocked or ignored, there still may be that one who will be honest enough to repent.  If we are always silent, we will never know.