Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”

• Exodus 20:16

“Q. 61. Which is the Ninth Commandment?
“A. The ninth commandment is, ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.’ ”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)

“Q. 76. Which is the Ninth Commandment?
“A. The Ninth Commandment is, ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.’ ”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

“Q. 143. Which is the Ninth Commandment?
“A. The Ninth Commandment is, ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.’ ”

• The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

The Larger Catechism, Shorter Catechism and the Spurgeon Catechism are identical in wording.

With the secular concept of all truth being relative, then the secular world becomes millions of people shouting that everyone else in the world is lying to them.  If truth is gone, then everything that disagrees with our view is a lie.  Maybe that is why insanity reigns in our present world.

But without truth, nothing has meaning.  Without meaning, we have no purpose in life.  Then why does everyone have this burning desire to make their mark in the world?  Why does everyone have a purpose in life, if all we have is chaos?

There is truth, and truth is found in Jesus Christ.  Next week we will dig deeper into this commandment, but on the surface, it seems to be about giving a witness report against a neighbor and doing so falsely.  Yet, elsewhere in the Law, it clearly states to not lie (Leviticus 19:11).

And now let us sing.

The following hymn is Trust and Obey.  It is sung by the Vagle Brothers.  With truth, we have a foundation that we can stand upon.  We must then only trust and obey.

“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.”

• John H. Sammis, Trust and Obey

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need You.  We need that foundation of truth to stand on.  Without it, we are nothing.  And bearing false witness crumbles that foundation.  Lord, help us to know the truth.  Help us to seek out and study Your Word.  And give us strength to serve others in Truth.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.