Postings on Proverbs 12:17

"Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit" (ESV)

Who: anyone
What: gives honest evidence vs utters deceit
Where: anywhere
When: anytime
Why: our words come from our hearts
How: speaks the truth vs. being a false witness

This proverbs seems like a "duh" proverb. Um, no kidding honest evidence comes from someone who speaks the truth, and no kidding deceit comes from the mouth of a false witness.

This "duh-ness" makes me think there's A LOT more going on here that I don't see at first glance. The reason I say that is because a proverb is supposed to give us a piece of wisdom, a skill, that when applied, at the right time and in the right context, helps us live a good life. How does this proverb do that?

Maybe, 12:17 does this by saying that someone who usually tells the truth or usually lies, when the pressure is on -- like in a trial when he's a "witness" with firsthand knowledge of what he's testifying about -- he will do what he usually does. Deception in a court case aims "to mislead the judge and to frustrate justice by declaring the righteous guilty and the guilty innocent" (Waltke 536).

One of the smart guys says, "A conscientious witness (see 6:19) declares the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and so strengthens the community; an unreliable person aims to mislead and damage others" (W 535). So, beyond the act itself, the perjurer selfishly places themselves and their interests above truth, justice and the community.

He goes on to say "the character of falseness or sincerity always affects the whole person," meaning this proverb "has to do with more than merely false or truth words" (W 536), meaning it speaks beyond individual actions to character.

My favorite teacher of all time, Ronald Wright, used to say that we're all like sponges, what's on the inside comes out when we're squeezed. If we are honest, we will tell the truth when life squeezes us. If we aren't, we will do our character. We do what we are, and only what we are.

The wisdom of this verse, in my mind, is after evaluating my own words is to ask myself, "Am I surrounding myself with honest people? If not, their bad character could harm me when life squeezes them, so beware!"

I hope that helps! TII!!!