615_Truthful words from a faithful heart (Proverbs 12:19-22)
Proverbs 12:19-22 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.
21 No ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
There is a story often told about a journalist who once said, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” The power of words, especially when they are bent or twisted, is frightening. A carefully chosen sentence, spoken at the right moment, can destroy reputations, ignite hatred, or justify cruelty—without ever sounding obviously false. That is why Scripture treats truthfulness not as a social courtesy but as a spiritual matter. Truth is never merely about accuracy; it is about allegiance. It is about whom we serve with our words and what kind of heart those words reveal.
Proverbs 12:19–22 brings us face to face with this reality. “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment… Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” Notice the contrast. The proverb does not merely say that lies are wrong and truth is right. It places lying lips against faithfulness. The issue is not only speech, but character. Not only words, but loyalty. God delights in faithfulness, integrity, and truth from the inward parts, because these reflect His own nature. He is not simply a God who speaks truth; He is truth.
Scripture consistently evaluates truth and falsehood not only by what is said, but by the heart from which it flows, the intent behind it, and the purpose it serves. One may present technically accurate information and yet be deeply untruthful in God’s eyes. Another may speak imperfectly and yet be acting in faithfulness toward God. This is uncomfortable for us, because we prefer moral categories that are neat and easily measurable. But God looks deeper. He weighs motives, allegiance, and covenant loyalty.
Biblically speaking, a lie is not defined merely as incorrect information. It is speech that deliberately distorts reality in order to deceive, harm, betray, or oppose God’s truth and purposes. It flows from a heart that resists truth and uses words as weapons rather than as instruments of love. This is why Scripture condemns lying so severely. It is not a minor flaw; it is a rebellion against the very character of God.
This deeper understanding helps us make sense of some troubling biblical narratives. One such account involves Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd of King Saul. When David fled from Saul and came to Nob, Ahimelech the priest gave him bread and the sword of Goliath. Doeg saw this and later reported it to Saul. On the surface, Doeg’s words appear factual. David was indeed at Nob. Ahimelech did give him provisions and a sword. Yet the outcome was catastrophic. Saul ordered the slaughter of the priests, and Doeg himself carried out the massacre.
Years later, David reflected on this event in Psalm 52. He does not describe Doeg as a man who merely told the truth at the wrong time. He calls him a liar and a deceiver. “Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor… You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right.” Why such harsh language, when the report itself was factually correct?
Because biblical truthfulness is not mere accuracy; it is faithfulness. Doeg withheld crucial context. He knew that Ahimelech acted in innocence, unaware of any conflict between Saul and David. He spoke with malicious intent, aligning himself with Saul’s paranoia. He weaponized partial truth to destroy innocent lives. His words betrayed covenant loyalty for personal advantage. In God’s eyes, this was lying—not because the facts were wrong, but because the heart was corrupt.
In stark contrast stands the story of Rahab. When the king’s men came searching for the Israelite spies, Rahab hid them and said, “The men went out… I do not know where they went.” Factually, this was untrue. Yet Scripture praises Rahab as a woman of faith. She is commended in Hebrews 11 and James 2, not condemned for falsehood. This has puzzled readers for centuries.
Why is Rahab not rebuked? Because her words, though factually inaccurate, were morally aligned with God’s truth and redemptive purposes. Rahab had come to believe that the God of Israel was the true God. She chose allegiance to Him over allegiance to a corrupt and doomed system. She acted to protect innocent life and aligned herself, however imperfectly, with God’s saving plan. Her speech flowed from faith, not deceit. Scripture does not present her lie as an ideal moral good, but it does recognize that God graciously works through morally imperfect people who place their trust in Him.
These two stories reveal something profound. Doeg spoke facts but betrayed truth. Rahab spoke an untruth but acted in faithfulness. This is why Scripture so often pairs truth with love, loyalty, and integrity. “Speak the truth in love,” the apostle Paul writes. Truth without love can still be a lie, because it misrepresents the heart of God.
Another sobering example comes from the early church. Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and brought part of the proceeds, pretending it was the full amount. Peter confronts Ananias and says, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” The sin was not withholding money; the money was theirs to do with as they pleased. The sin was pretense. They lived a lie. They presented an image of devotion that did not match reality. And Peter makes it clear that this deception was not merely against people, but against God Himself.
Living a lie is often more dangerous than telling one. A false life sustained by appearances corrodes the soul. It trains the heart to value approval over faithfulness, image over integrity. Over time, the line between truth and falsehood blurs, not because facts are unclear, but because the heart has learned to evade God.
Jesus Himself brings all of this into sharp focus when He says, “I am the truth.” Truth is not merely a set of correct statements; it is a person. To live in truth is to live in alignment with Him. This is why Satan is described as a liar and the father of lies. When he lies, he speaks from his own nature. Lies are not just what he does; they are who he is. Scripture’s final vision is uncompromising: those who love and practice falsehood stand outside the city of God. Not because God delights in punishment, but because lies cannot coexist with His holy presence.
So what does this mean for us, in our everyday lives? It means that truthfulness begins long before words leave our lips. It begins in the heart. It asks hard questions. Why am I saying this? Whom does it serve? Does it flow from love, faithfulness, and loyalty to God, or from fear, pride, resentment, or self-protection? Are we telling the whole truth, or only the part that benefits us? Are we silent when truth demands courage, or vocal when silence would be faithful?
In a world saturated with spin, half-truths, and carefully curated images, the call of Proverbs is deeply countercultural. Truthful lips endure forever because they are anchored in God’s own faithfulness. A lying tongue may triumph for a moment, but it cannot stand before Him who is truth.
May the Lord help us to be people whose words flow from faithful hearts. May we resist the temptation to weaponize truth or hide behind technical accuracy. May we refuse pretense and walk honestly before God and others. And when we fail, may we return quickly to the One who is truth, asking Him to purify our hearts so that our words may reflect His character. For it is not merely truthful speech that delights the Lord, but a faithful heart from which truthful words naturally flow. God bless.
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