Bridges on Proverbs 12:17
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 12:17
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5-7 
 8 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 20-22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 27 
 28 
 
17.  He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
 
This proverb may appear almost too obvious to need remark. But the Scripture not only sets out what is deep and searching, but stamps the every-day truths with the seal of God for our more reverential obedience. Yet there is here more than lies on the surface. It might seem enough for a faithful witness to speak truth. But no — he must shew forth righteousness; what is just, as well as what is true. The best-intentioned purpose must not lead us to conceal what is necessary to bring the cause to a righteous issue; “rejoicing not in iniquity, but rejoicing in the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:6.)
A false witness does not always deal with open lying but with deceit — truth misrepresented, concealed and thus turned into falsehood. Thus was Doeg a false witness against the priests. He states the fact, but by suppression of circumstances gives a false impression. (1 Samuel 21:1-7; 22:9, 10.) The false witness condemned our Lord by a similar perverse misconstruction of his words. (Matthew 26:60, 61. John 2:19-21.) Oh, cherish a deep abhorrence of deceit in all its forms and beginnings. (Chapter 13:5. Psalm 119:163.) Christian obligation and privilege alike forbid it. (Ephesians 4:22, 25.) Truth and deceit are not mere moral qualities, but the distinctive mark of the two classes of the world. Look to it, that the broad stamp of truth and righteousness brings out the testimony — “Behold! an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.” (John 1:47.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Corinthians 13:6
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; {in the truth: or, with the truth}
 
 
1 Samuel 21:1-7
1 ¶ Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? {Ahimelech: also called Ahiah} 2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. 3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present. {present: Heb. found} 4 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. 5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. {yea...: or, especially when this day there is other sanctified in the vessel} 6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away. 7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
 
1 Samuel 22:9, 10
9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matthew 26:60, 61
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
 
John 2:19-21
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
 
 
Proverbs 13:5
5 ¶ A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
 
Psalm 119:163
163 ¶ I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
 
 
Ephesians 4:22, 25
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
 
 
John 1:47
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!