Day 530: The value of truth - Proverbs 22 vs 17 - 21

17-18 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. 19 That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you. 20-21 Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? Proverbs 22 vs 17 -21 (English Standard Version)

In all the sharp divisions, wars and sorrows that the world has been through, what would you say has been the biggest casualty, and perhaps even the cause of so much distress?

I'm sure we'd all agree that the loss of so many lives was a tremendous casualty. But is it possible that the biggest tragedy, and the cause of so much suffering, was the loss of truth! Even now with a pandemic sweeping the world, the many lies that have been spread have made the situation a hundred times worse than what it would’ve been. We have reached a time when many have lost all trust in politicians, corporations and news media. It's like the prophet Jeremiah said of Jerusalem over 2,500 years ago: “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter.” (Isaiah 59:14)

So what was the aim of the advice that this father was setting before his son? (vs 20-21)

He wanted his son, and all who would read this book, to know what is right and true. Those two concepts go hand in hand – righteousness and truth – each depends on the other. It was truth that suffered the first blow when Satan deceived both Eve and Adam with his lie. The outcome, says the apostle Paul, is that “the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth . . . because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:18 & 25)

But we are not only meant to know the truth – what else must we be able to do? (vs 20-21)

Knowing the truth equips us to give a faithful report to those we serve – and also to answer any who are seeking truth in this world. When Jesus was on trial He said to Pontius Pilate: “You say that I am a king - for this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world - to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” To which Pilate responded: “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38) People in the world are in the dark and need to hear the truth that comes from God. The apostle Peter said: “In your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy - always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

So how do we get to know truth, and what will it's affect be on our life? (vs 17-18)

We need to be willing to learn, and to pay attention to those to whom God made His wisdom known. That would include the prophets and apostles through whom He spoke, but especially to take in all the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Doing that, says Proverbs, will lead our lives in ways that are pleasant. Even in the midst of the troubles this world brings, God's truth is able to make bitter things sweet. What is the other important purpose the writer had in mind in urging his readers to value truth and to make God's wisdom their goal? (vs 19)

It’s so that our trust may not be in mere people and their words, no matter how powerful or intellectual those people might be, but in God – the One who never lies. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. It is through Him that we come to the Father and enter into that life which is eternal. There can be nothing more pleasant than that!