Today’s Blog: Too much compassion?
TODAY’S PROVERB: A trustworthy witness tells what is right, but a false witness, deceit. Proverbs 12:17, TLV
NOTE: This blog was originally posted on July 12, 2018. It was eerily relevant to today’s events.
I’ll never forget the first time I realized people lie in court. We were in small claims trying to get my past pay from a former employer. It was pretty straight forward, but the defendant lied about other issues — claiming I had done illegal things. Fortunately, because I had an understanding of corporate policy I was able to discredit the lies. The judge saw through them and ruled in my favor, but it was a rude awakening what people will do to win.
We live in a world where emotions and political correctness can sway a verdict over the truth. Compassion for the oppressed can overshadow right and wrong. Even when true justice is pronounced, a crowd can take matters into their own hands and respond with violence.
One of the Bible’s most profound legal instructions — in my non-lawyer understanding — is in Exodus.
“Do not spread a false report. Do not join hands with the wicked by becoming a malicious witness. Do not follow a crowd to do evil. Nor are you to testify in a case, to follow a crowd and pervert justice. On the other hand, nor should you takes sides with a poor man in his case.”
EXODUS 23:1-3, TLV
In the above passage we are NOT to:
- spread a false report.
- join hands with the wicked by becoming a malicious witness.
- follow a crowd to do evil.
- testify in a case, to follow a crowd and pervert justice.
- take sides with the poor man in his case, when he has practiced an illegal deed.
Our Heavenly Father is clear about His hatred of lies and injustice. He’s also a GOD of grace and mercy.
Many people confuse the path to mercy. They feel they can take matters into their own hands. Mercy isn’t mercy unless there is a guilty verdict. Someone has to pay. We cannot pervert justice in order to show mercy. But, there can be mercy in justice.
Our Father granted us mercy in that we were condemned and are now free. But at the cost of His Son’s suffering and death. He had to pay for our guilt. (John 3:16-18)
If we’ve been called as a witness — whether in a court or in an argument — be truthful. Depend on our Holy GOD to sort out the outcome in His way AND His timing.
May we be a trustworthy witness, my friends.
Proverbs 12:17 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
