The advent of computers and the Internet has been a wonderful thing for the propagation of the Gospel of Christ. While these things have been a great tool for Christians of all sorts, the enemy and his subjects use them too. Rumors, lies, legends, and such are bigger and “better.” Any medium, including video, can be altered to show something that is not there or distort an object or person.
Because of its spiritual danger, falsehood is addressed in the Holy Bible in various ways. King David cried out to God about it in Psalm 114. Let us look particularly at
verses 7 to 10 of that psalm which are as follows:Stretch forth Your hand from on high; Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hand of aliens 8 Whose mouths speak deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song to You, O God; Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You, 10 Who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David His servant from the evil sword.
Given the rise of falsehood, this heartfelt cry of David should be ours today and we will see five things from it.
I. The Profane 7f-g
While lying (NASB has deceit) and falsehood are mentioned in verse 8, verse 7 shows us their source. “Great waters” alludes to society throughout the world. Each person needs to be redeemed by Christ unto God. Until then, a person is spiritually defiled with sin.
“Aliens” may also be expressed as “foreigners” and more generically as “strange children." True Christians are termed sons (children) of God, and children of light and of the day (1 Thessalonians 5:5). The unsaved are the children of this world (Luke 16:8).
Anyone who has not received and assimilated the redemptive work of Christ remains part of the realm of darkness (Colossians 1:13) which is without the holiness of God. Therefore someone who is not a real Christian is profane in the eyes of God. One might not realize that, but upon true salvation our spiritual eyes are opened and we then know there is a vast difference between the world and the Kingdom of God.
Over the years I have noted that the more one is into sin it is more likely that they fall into falsehood. I see this very often with alcoholics or those that drink a lot. And, I do not know why, it seems more prevalent with heavy beer drinkers.
II. The Plight 8
Checking the ancient language {1} for “deceit” or lying, and “falsehood”, these terms seem very close in meaning. This could be the intent since the verse is probably a poetic couplet. The Jewish Publication Society* has “Whose mouth speak* falsehood, and their right hand is a right hand of lying.” With that we shall address falsehood with lying being an expression of it.
Examples Of Falsehood
Let us start with general world falsehoods and then work our way over the religious realm. For the world a great place to start is political falsehoods. Though I am a political conservative I have noted, and disagree with the propagation of, many falsehoods against political liberals. Here are just a few:
Over a decade ago when Al Gore ran for president of the U.S.A. (POTUS) there was a claim that he gave a wrong reference for John 3:16. However, I immediately knew it was false because the exact same allegation was made about another Democrat in earlier years.
When Obama was POTUS, I heard claims that he was going to take everyone’s guns, establish martial law, and so on. Those things never happened, but I understand gun sales increase. Also the claims about and edited pictures of his wife to indicate she was supposedly male were sickeningly shameful and cruel.
Then there is what many of us call “false science.” When I was a child I aspired to be a scientist, and I know there is real science that does much good. But a portion of science tends to promote theory as fact, or produces facts when all of the data might not be available to us. The insistence of some evolutionists that humans evolved from lower life forms is an example of the former.
Transgenderism is another example. Transgenderism is a falsehood inspired by satan {2} to profane the image of God and is often triggered by “feelings” {3}. At one point in my childhood I was forced (not by my parents) to read a book about puberty and sexual matters. As I reluctantly read it, I did learn that each person has both testosterone and estrogen. Sometimes they get out of balance. So a boy can “feel girlish” and a girl can “feel boyish.” Feelings, sexual or not, should never lead us or determine what we are. Another thing, as sexual creatures most of us enjoy sex and for some it does not matter how or who they enjoy it with.
The ancient age of things is a case where not all the data is in and scientists, as well as some Holy Bible scholars, draw conclusions from what I would say is incomplete data. For example, let us say an man made artifact is tested by scientists and is found to be 70,000 years old. However, some Holy Bible scholars would say it is not so because the earth cannot be more than 6,000 years old.
Quite often the scientific means of determining the ancient age of an object is radiometrics where radioactive material is used and where half-life of isotopes are measured in solar years. However, I have yet to find where anyone knows absolutely for sure if all radioactive material was “made” at the same time or not.
Dependence upon solar reckoning of time is another drawback, not only for the scientist, but for the Holy Bible scholar too. The Hebrew word for “day” does not always mean twenty-four hours and Genesis 1 records the sun did not appear until the fourth day. It makes me think of the possibility of earth being a “rogue planet” that at one point was captured by the gravitational pull of the sun. Another thing is that neither scholar nor scientist can say with absolute certainty that the speed of the rotation of the earth on its axis and also around the sun has been constant in regard to time, path, and position.
Before we leave topic of science there is one more major falsehood I need to mention. It is bad when facts are based on theory. It is worse when sinful hypocrisy rules the hearts of the “wise.” If scientists would find a single living cell on Mars we would hear the news that life has been discovered there. However, our children are taught in public schools that “just a mass of cells” exist in a woman in the early stages of pregnancy and our judicial system thinks the new cell formed by sperm penetrating an egg is not life, or they cannot say it is life.
Now let us go to the American legal system. Quite striking to me is an “affluenza" defense in court. In some cases the term "affluenza" has been used to refer to an inability to understand the consequences of one's actions because of financial privilege {4}. Aside from that, there were times I have observed discourse in courtrooms and it seemed to me certain lawyers could not care less about truth.
Many times society as a whole creates falsehood. For example, propagating the idea that one will earn more money with a college degree. That is not always true, because there are many people who have not gone to college but have learned a trade and earn a lot of money.
That reminds me of the time when, as a young boy, I aspired to be a research chemist. It was the late 50s and early 60s. Many branches of science were bustling at that time, and there was a lot of literature, ads, and such that encouraged young people to pursue a career in science. I thought one day I, too, would graduate from college, or even a university with degrees and easily get a job somewhere. That dream was crushed due to my sinful activity, but God saved me through Christ at the age of 17. He soon called me to the ministry. Sometime after that I saw a magazine picture of a PhD chemist hanging rejected employment applications on a ceiling. Despite what he heard that there would be lots of jobs in his field, there were none. He was a victim of falsehood.
Women are often a target of falsehood. Evidently there is a minority in the U.S.A. that feel women are very oppressed in this Nation. I am not saying some injustices do not exist, but whatever some find, or what they think they have found, some take it and use it to whip up a few in a frenzy.
A case in point was when, on March 8, 2017, some felt they just had to declare a “day without a woman” in the hopes of making some type of economic problem for a day. To my knowledge, no problem occurred. Matt Walsh posted to Facebook, “Today is the official "Day Without A Woman." Certain women are abandoning their jobs, families, and responsibilities for the day to protest imaginary persecutions and Donald Trump or something, I think.”
I can continue with examples, but let me give one to bridge us over to the religious aspect. Many women thought the (supposed) anti-woman glass ceiling to the White House would be shattered when Hillary Clinton would be elected as POTUS in 2016. Instead, looking at the faces of a number of liberals you would think the end of the world came when she was defeated. Their hopes, dreams, aspirations were crushed. That was probably a foretaste of what will happen when Revelation 18 is fulfilled.
Falsehood In The Religious Realm
Again, since the devil’s chat with Eve there have been countless religious falsehoods. More suddenly occurred in the United States in the mid-1800s with the advent of three or four major cults. Then, new “improved” translations and versions of the Holy Bible {5} came out. There have been even more since 1970. Ministers are not properly teaching their hearers and some will use any translation or version to make a point. Sadly, there are some Christians that think that just about anything that calls itself a Holy Bible or Bible is the actual Word of God.
Many churches, denominations, and fellowships have swallowed the falsehood that same-sex marriage is fine with God. Never mind the written Word of God because they have made a god like unto themselves, one that changes his mind and tolerates sin. They promote a very soft loving Jesus and almost everyone, if not everyone, who gives mere mental agreement to His existence makes it right into the pearly gates. It does not matter if they are still adulterous, greedy, or whatever.
I mentioned the falsehood of same-sex marriage. One thing that led to its acceptance was when more and more churches, denominations and such accepted the falsehood that divorce and remarriage was acceptable to God. Search the Holy Scriptures. There is not one verse in the Word of God where one is permitted to remarry after divorce.
Then, especially in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles, there are the falsehood teachings of the prosperity gospel, hyperfaith, vocal prophecy is equal to the written Word, and more. Then there are the little errors. One is the thought that every single local church needs to have at least one prophet, one evangelist, one apostle, one pastor and one teacher. Others insist all churches must have some type of spiritual covering by another church, or that each pastor must have a “daddy pastor.” Still others claim to be apostles, prophets, and whatever else bolsters their sinful ego.
A
very dangerous trend is the emphasis upon miracles. There certainly are miracles and many Christians are truly used by God in that realm. However, there is an over emphasis, and even an insistence by some that they MUST occur in almost every service. And, because of a lack of knowledge of the Word of God, some think that every miracle, or perceived miracle, that occurs is definitely from God and / or certifies that those through whom the miraculous occurred are certainly the people of God. They do not know, or overlook the fact, that the Word of God warns about false miracles, and disregard Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'”Given the many examples above of falsehood, and what I just said about miracles, seriously and prayerfully consider this passage from 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
Hopefully you can see that though there are real miracles, there are false signs and wonders, and that miracles should not be a personal focus. Nor should one think that if the miraculous is done through a religious person that this always means that person stands in God’s favor and we should listen to them. Also, one can see, along with Revelation 13, that the political and religious realms will be used by satan during the Great Tribulation.
But most of all hopefully you can see that each of us need, with the guidance of the written Word and Holy Spirit, to examine ourselves, our affections, our ties with people and organizations, and other things to see if we are believing, listening to, or being influenced by falsehoods. And whether we are or not we should wholeheartedly engage in David’s plea as found in verse 7.
III. The Plea 7a-e
“Stretch forth Your hand from on high; Rescue me and deliver me . . .”.
By the Holy Spirit David recognizes that there is nothing within him or any other human to help, so it must come from God above. The essential way to be protected from falsehood is to have Christ within being born from above. The finished work of Christ is the hand of God reaching down to save us. We need to take ahold of it and hang on. When Jesus spoke about being born again as recorded in John 3 the Greek meaning of it means both born a second time and born from above.
“Rescue,” or “rid” in some translations and versions means here to part, open, separate, set free, to snatch away, set free. The Word of God indicates Christ is the Way of escape from self, sin, the world, satan, and damnation. “Deliver” means to take away, snatch away, to rescue, recover, and to deliver, from enemies, or troubles, or death. If we let Him, Christ will break us free from the world and remove us from its influence. With this, we can pray a similar request as found in Proverbs 30:7b - 8c, “ . . . I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; . . .”.
IV. The Praise 9
"I will sing a new song to You, O God; Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,"
It is always good to praise God, and I have learned it is an especially great tool in spiritual warfare. Though real Christians meet with specific cases of spiritual warfare there is a general ongoing spiritual war. Part of the enemy’s tactics is falsehood. The falsehood comes in various forms, like rumors, fake news, fake stories, worldly thinking and speaking, and much more.
In the midst of all of this deceit praise God for Who He is. Praise Him for what He has done through Jesus Christ. Praise Him that Christ will very soon return and establish His glorious kingdom on earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20). In everything thank and praise Him and you will be strengthened by His presence within.
V. The Power 10
"Who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David His servant from the evil sword."
The Holy Bible is very clear that the spiritual salvation that each of us needs can only come through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:10-12). Once we surrender to the Father and receive the Son into ourselves we become part of His kingdom of priests.
And here is something interesting from Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies {6} (if I am understanding the abbreviations correctly): it looks like the Hebrew word for “salvation" is in the plural. This is so true with the salvation offered in Christ, for He is able to save us from sin, self, the world, satan, numerous troubles, the wrath to come, the second death and more. One can also think of the words of Amazing Grace, “through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come”.
This matches the word “rescue" in this verse which is the same Hebrew word for “rescue" or “rid" in verse 7. Coupled with the Holy Spirit, the written Word can free us from spiritual blindness and other spiritual maladies. God desires to heal and He will do so through Jesus Christ. All of us would do very well to fully trust His written Word and evaluate everything from it as directed by the Holy Spirit. If we are truly saved then the Holy Ghost will help us if we let Him (John 16:13).
Christ said, as recorded in John 8:31-32, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” In John 14:6 He declared that He is the Truth, and back in John 8 at verse 36 He says “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” He sets us free from sin, including falsehood, and enables us to lovingly serve the Father.
The word “evil” in this verse is a very general term having numerous definitions. Falsehood brings with it all sorts of troubles. It might be fear, acts of stupidity, unrighteous anger, time wasting, and more. The greatest evil, though, is that one would believe a falsehood more than God’s Word and trust in a falsehood (or the source thereof) instead of God.
We need to be very careful not to believe falsehoods or be influenced by them. We also need to be careful not to create falsehoods or propagate them, for it is written in Revelation 22:15 that he who loves and practices lying is excluded from the New Jerusalem (what many of us would call heaven): “Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”
God has prompted me to add one more thing. We need to be extremely careful not to place falsehood in the lives of children. It just struck me today that some parents, in order to get their child to obey them, will scare them by saying something like “the boogie man in the closet will get you.” No. They are to obey a rightful command from you because God says they should. They need to know judgment awaits. Having a child think there is a boogie man programs their mind to later think any Biblical account of judgment is not true. It is hardly a wonder we have people today that believe and create falsehood and have no true fear of the God that will judge after being spiritual conditioned with the myths of Easter Bunnies, Santa Claus, Boogie Men, The Tooth Fairy, leprechauns, and all such things.
Notes:
{1} From an electronic version of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong incorporated in the Online Bible program, and so throughout the article whenever the ancient language is referred to and no other authority is cited.
{2} Not capitalized on purpose. Experts Column gives me the freedom to express myself in that way.
{3} I say it is often triggered by feelings because that is what many so-called trangendered people have said.
{4} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affluenza
{5} Please read Holy Bibles Good And Bad at http://thesureword.expertscolumn.com/article/holy-bibles-good-and-bad .
{6} Wilson, William: Wilson's Old Testament Word Studies (MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, VA) p 366
This article was written in the form of a sermon (message) outline with comments. God willing by April 31, 2017 (hopefully much sooner), you should be able to hear the actual message (sermon) by selecting a link at http://www.sapphirestreams.com/life/audioM.html#M443 .
Unless otherwise noted all Holy Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates. * = For other versions the spelling of some words is updated for our time in addition to changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates.
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