NOT EVERYONE IS WILLING TO FORGIVE

PROCLAMATION

“Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there.  He sounded the trumpet and shouted, ‘We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son!  Every man to his tent, Israel!”  2 Samuel 20:1 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

As David was trying to convince the people to accept him again as king, not everyone who came to meet him was supportive of him.  There was a troublemaker in the crowd named Sheba who would lead a second rebellion against King David.  When Sheba openly opposed David, the men of Israel followed him and deserted David, but this time the men of Judah stayed loyal to him. (2 Samuel 20:2)  It is not stated whether or not Sheba was a part of the first rebellion against David led by Absalom.  It is also not stated why David felt that Sheba was more of a problem than Absalom or why Sheba was so influential. (2 Samuel 20:6)  However, after he left, David sent his men to pursue after Sheba and they returned with his head. (2 Samuel 20:22)

APPLICATION

In every crowd there is always a troublemaker present.  Someone who undermines our position, opposes our plan, and wants to lead our followers in a different direction.  It is not always clear exactly why our haters hate us so.  Some people feel that we have done them wrong and they will not forgive or forget it.  Some people don’t like what we have said, or what we have done, or what we stand for, or for being who we are.  There is nothing that we can do to make some people like us, and we really should not try to.  We just need to be ourselves and to follow The Word of God and accept the fact that we will have some haters.  Jesus, The Christ, said that we would be hated (Matthew 10:22) but that we should remember that the world hated Him before hating us. (John 15:18)  So, we should rejoice and be glad because we will be blessed when people insult us, persecute us, or lie on us because of our beliefs, and we should know that we will receive a heavenly reward because of it. (Matthew 5:11-12) 

LORD SAVE ME FROM LYING LIPS AND DECEITFUL TONGUES

Proclamation:

“I call on The Lord in my distress, and He answers me.  Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.”  Psalm 120:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God and have been credited to King David.  In this psalm he complains about those who have brought false charges against him (Psalm 120:2-4) and about his wicked neighbors. (Psalm 120:5-7)  In his distress he calls upon The Lord God and He heard him and answered him.

Application:

We have all been lied on, lied to, and deceived by family, friends, colleagues, co-workers, associates, acquaintances, and people we trusted.   It does not feel good to be in that position.  However, we have all also told lies to others, on others, about things, and we have thought about lying even when we did not do it.  All men are liars. (Psalm 116:11)  We are quick to point out the sins and shortcomings of others but we ignore or don’t address our own.  “People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.” (Author unknown)  As we sow, so shall we also reap. (Galatians 6:7)  We want God’s help to protect us from the effects of the lies that we told to us and on us, but we should also pray and ask to be forgiven for lying, and for His help to stop lying to and on others.  Lying is the result of the influence of the devil who is the father of lies. (John 8:44)  There is a price to pay for lying. (Psalm 120:3-4 and Revelation 21:8)

Tell The Truth Don't Lie

"Lying lips are abomination to The LORD: but they that deal truly are His delight."  Proverbs 12:22 (NIV)

King Solomon makes it clear how The Lord feels about liars.  He also states that The Lord delights in those who tell the truth.

There is no distinction in the Bible between the proverbial "little white lie" and any other kind of lie.  A lie is a lie.  Even the lie that was told to "protect someone's feelings", is still a lie and we will have to give an account for it.  Liars are one of several things that are an abomination to The Lord.  All lies are of the devil for he is the father of lies. (John 8:44)  In fact, there is a special place in hell reserved for liars. (Revelation 21:8)  It is better for us not to say anything at all than to tell a lie.  We need to ask God for forgiveness's for every lie spoken, and ask for His help to control our tongue.  God delights in those who tell the truth.

The Truth Will Set You Free From Sin

"To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can You say that we shall be set free?' Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin ... I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word ... 'If you were Abraham's children,' said Jesus, 'then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does' ... You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies ... He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." John 8:31-47 (NIV)

Even though the people wanted to kill Him for what He was saying, Jesus continued to teach the truth. To the Jews who were descendants of Abraham physically, their behavior revealed them to be the devil's descendants. The devil is the father of lies and there is no truth in him.

Jesus spoke the truth. We must hear the truth, believe the truth, and live the truth, if we want to be free from the penalty of sin. Those of us who belong to God can hear what He says, and we endeavour to do what He says. Our words and deeds reveal who is our real father.

Don't Lie

"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." Exodus 20:16 (NIV)

The ninth of the ten commandments that God gave to Moses for the Children of Israel and all mankind. One should not speak falsely and lie on or to others, but should tell the truth.

Our legal system, and the legal system of most if not all other societies, is based upon the principal that witnesses should "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Societies and personal relationships fail when people cannot be counted on to tell the truth. It is very upsetting for someone, especially someone that you considered a friend, to look you in the eye and tell you a lie. Some people claim that they tell "little white lies" to avoid hurting someone's feelings. There is no such thing as a little lie, a lie is a lie. A lie is speaking falsely to someone about someone or something. Lying in not Christ-like. Good Christian conversation is not based upon lying. The Bible states that there is a special place reserved in hell for "... all liars ..." (Revelation 21:8) It would be much better for all of us, if we cannot tell the truth, then we should not say anything at all. We need to pray for forgiveness and pray for God to guide our tongue.