Topic: Bearing False Witness [Sunday March 19, 2017]
Text: Deuteronomy 19:11-21
Key Verse: “If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days” (Deuteronomy 19:16,17)
The bearing of false testimony is strictly prohibited by God, as no good thing can ever be achieved by untruthful testimony. Our text reveals that one witness is not sufficient to indict a man; at the mouth of two or three witnesses shall the truth be established. The accused and the accuser are to present themselves before the Lord, priests or judges.
Diligent investigation should be made on the accusation and if discovered that the witness has given a false witness, he is to be dealt with according to his expected punishment for the accused. This is to make others willing to bear false witness fear. This way, evil is eliminated from the land. There are several ways in which false witness can be borne. A person can help spread a rumour and thus join hands with a perpetrator. One can indulge in false witness by turning a blind eye when truth is known.
A person can simply fail to come forward with the truth or insinuate falsehood without actually saying it is so. And, perhaps worst of all, a person can spread gossip about another, thus engaging in some of the worst forms of character assassination. When God gave the Ten Commandments, the ninth said, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16). The bottom line is that the bearing of false witness indicts the heart of man. Is this sin part of your landscape? Then you need to open your heart to the Lord. He will enable you to conquer this propensity to bear false witness.
Thought for the day: Bearing false testimony is breaking God’s law.
Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Samuel 15-17
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.