You Shall Not Bear False Witness

[Sung Psalm: 64]

The central point of the Ninth Commandment has to do with the law court.

When you stand before the judge, you must tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

But the ninth commandment has a far broader application than the legal system. Just like "you shall not kill" is about how you handle anger – because murder is about striking back at God; so also the ninth commandment (as all the commandments) has to do with what kind of person you are. Are you a person characterized by "the truth"?

We all like to think so. I used to think that I was a "straight shooter" – that I would just tell it the way I saw it!!

But I'm not. I tend to think an awful lot – and sometimes too much – about how the other person will hear what I am about to say. In one sense, it's a good trait! It is good to be sensitive to how others will hear you!

But sometimes it gets in the way of the truth. Sometimes I wind up trying to out-think the Holy Spirit – and that never ends well...