Postings on Proverbs 12:22

"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight" (ESV)

The contrast couldn't be any clearer!

Who? Those who lie vs. Those who act faithfully
What? Are an abomination to the Lord vs. Are a delight to the Lord
Where? Anywhere
When? Whenever it's time to tell the truth
Why? Probably because He is the truth and loves the truth
How? ???

Bottom line: I never want to do anything in the category of 'Things God Hates'! Liars "so repulse his nature that he casts them aside" (Waltke 539) -- I NEVER want that said of me!

It may be a good study to do, to find out all of the things God hates. I just did a quick search, and in Proverbs that phrase is used 12 times (3:32; 6:16; 11:1, 20; 12:22; 15:8-9, 26; 16:5; 17:15; 20:10, 23), most of the time, of deception.

I love this line from Longman: "It is a fundamental precept of the book that words ought to reflect reality" (278). How much better to be God's delight! How much better to rest in His favor!

The wisdom seems pretty clear to me: Are you a liar, or do you surround yourself with liars? You set yourself up for danger either way! If it's you, you can't be trusted. If it's your friends, they can't be trusted. Being someone that's trustworthy, meaning worthy of someone's trust, is not determined by your intentions; it's determined by your actions.

If you've been lying about something, confess it, quickly. That rot you feel inside of you is removed, instantly, when you confess. Make it a habit to avoid doing things that God hates, and people who do the same. Whatever it is that you want, that's motivating you to lie, is not worth it.

Now, in Christ, Christians are God's children and He loves us like He loves Jesus (John 17:24). This proverb, then, does not have to do with how a person is saved or how someone stays saved. This is concerned with one of many motivations for growth and change in the Bible, namely, living to please God.

Paul: "we make it our aim to please him" (2 Cor 5:9; see also 2 Timothy 2:3-6).

For the Christian, this starts as a desire to please Him that is then lived out in his daily choices and actions. To quote an old song, he "always feel like somebody's watching me." He is aware that God is there, so he makes pleasing God his goal.

How do you accomplish such a lofty goal? By avoiding the things God hates, and doing the things that are His delight, like telling the truth. I hope that helps! TII!!!