VALIANT FOR THE TRUTH
“And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:3
The prophet Jeremiah, in declaring the sins of the people, speaks graphically about their damaging words and their indifference toward the truth. The lies of men are seen as lethal weapons. He says, “they bend their tongues like their bow for lies.” We see in the language of the Word of God the manner in which words can be used and also the harm that can be inflicted. The prophet tells us that their tongues were like an instrument of war, a bow, and their arrows are lies.
This illustration should remind us of the power of words, both for good and for evil. The words of the slanderer and gossip are capable of bringing great destruction. Like the arrows that stalk their prey, their lies can be deadly. It is likewise true of the false teacher whose doctrinal untruths are hurled at the minds of the simple. As with a skilled archer, their arrows are directed toward the victim, often causing great injury. One should not underestimate the influence of lies.
Jeremiah then describes the people as those that “are not valiant for the truth.” They were more interested in lies than the truth. When a person rejects the truth, in any measure, and in any form, it is not a minor thing. As a matter of fact, when truth is rejected, the only thing left to believe is lies. We, as God’s people, should be great advocates of the truth. We should do everything for the truth and reject all lies. We are to be diligent defenders of the Word of God.
There are perhaps few, if any, more damaging concerns in our day than this. Multitudes who claim allegiance to Christ are not grounded in the truth. Lying prophets who preach a false gospel, filled with contradictions and half-truths, have corrupted their minds. Without a respect and understanding of the absolute standard of truth, the Word of God, men and women are subject to believe virtually anything. We are to be “valiant for the truth.” We are to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints, for the whole body of truth, and particularly for the only Gospel of salvation found in the Holy Scriptures. We should also be “valiant for the truth” in our human relationships. The children of God should be known for their veracity and integrity.