“SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT LYING ABOUT INNOCENT NEIGHBORS AND DON’T TRY TO GET EVEN”
Proverbs 24:8 “Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, For would you deceive with your lips?”
Proverbs 24:29 “Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.””
Taken from today’s reading in “The One Year Bible” by Zondervan.
1. Do not be a lying witness against an innocent neighbor,
Proverbs 24:8 “Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, For would you deceive with your lips?”
Both of these verse’s contain “Do not’s”.
In this verse the “do not” has to do with spitefully or falsely testifying against an innocent neighbor.
It’s speaking of going after someone who has done nothing wrong to you,
It’s speaking of lying about another person.
We are being told “not to do this”
Its also asking us a question. “For would you deceive with your lips?”
Or “would you actually lie about your neighbor?”
Don’t do it is what God is saying to us.
2. Also, we are not to try and retaliate against others.
Proverbs 24:29 “Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.””
In addition to not lying about an innocent neighbor, here we are being told “Do not retaliate”.
So, if someone does something wrong or terrible, or hurtful to you, we are being told by the Lord do not say
“I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work”
In other words, do not allow yourself to develop the attitude that says, “I’ll get even with this person”.
Or “I’ll pay them back for what they have done to me”.
3. Why does the Lord tell us these things?
Because vengeance belongs to Him.
It’s His prerogative and responsibility to deal with these matters.
God calls us to be forgiving to others and not to hold a grudge against people
But, to commit our problems to Him.
He will take care of dealing with the matter.
We can leave it in His hands.
Some thoughts, questions, and applications:
1. It’s interesting that we are capable of lying and hurting others who are innocent,
2. It’s also interesting that we in our fleshly nature would like to hurt the person or person’s who have hurt us.
3. And, what a relief to know that we can both forgive that person, and pray for them, and commit it all to the Lord.
4. Don’t You think God is very able to deal with the situation, no matter what it is?
A prayer:
Father You are the great counselor, the great forgiver, and the great healer. You desire that Your people love one another, not hurt one another. Help us Lord to abide by the teaching in these verses, and refrain from doing what comes naturally out of our fleshly nature. May we walk in the Spirit, trusting You in the midst of difficult situations.
In the name of our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
