Proverbs 18:17
The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.(NIV)
Another translation puts it this way -The first to speak in court sounds right- until the cross-examination begins. (NLT)
As human beings, we must understand that the heart of man is wicked and deceitful and that only God truly knows the heart , and examines the mind( Jeremiah 17: 9 -10).
I have personally read about murder cases where the culprits of murder had feigned to be appalled and devastated by the death of the victims, and had actually even tried to help the Police find the murderer, only for intensive investigations to point to them as the murderer. Men can be very deceitful .
Because of the deceit of men, we as Christians must endeavour not to be quick to draw judgements in our hearts concerning others and what we hear about them from others, without first hearing out their case, and without seeking the Lord on the matter. The Lord, just as He enabled Solomon in 1 Kings 3 :16-28 to judge the words of the two women who came before him, both claiming ownership of a baby, will help us to discern the truth in people's words.
King David was once lied to about Mephibosheth by Ziba, his servant. And without first listening to the side of Mephibosheth, David drew a judgement against him. Time passed, and David later discovered the truth that what he had earlier been told was untrue. (2 Samuel 16: 1-4) and
(2 Samuel 19: 26 -30). There is a correlation between David's judgement and Solomon's judgement in the above cases. They were both not sure about who was telling the truth, so asked for the object of dispute to be shared. In Solomon's it was a baby, and in David's, it was property. However, the one telling the truth was ready to give it all up.
Proverbs 18 :13 reminds us that He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame. Nicodemus re-iterates our need to listen out before we judge in John 7 :51 “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” At that time. Jesus was being wrongly judged.
King David was once lied to about Mephibosheth by Ziba, his servant. And without first listening to the side of Mephibosheth, David drew a judgement against him. Time passed, and David later discovered the truth that what he had earlier been told was untrue. (2 Samuel 16: 1-4) and
(2 Samuel 19: 26 -30). There is a correlation between David's judgement and Solomon's judgement in the above cases. They were both not sure about who was telling the truth, so asked for the object of dispute to be shared. In Solomon's it was a baby, and in David's, it was property. However, the one telling the truth was ready to give it all up.
Proverbs 18 :13 reminds us that He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame. Nicodemus re-iterates our need to listen out before we judge in John 7 :51 “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” At that time. Jesus was being wrongly judged.
Beloved, let us learn to give people the benefit of the doubt until we hear their side of the story, and let us bring all subjects of disputes before the God who reads all hearts and minds, and has great wisdom. Proverbs 18:18 teaches us to go to the Lord with disputes - Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. In the olden days, lots were cast in solemn prayer to ask God to settle disputes.
There is great deceit in the World, therefore we must be discerning , and we must endeavour to lean on God's Spirit to guide us into all truth.
SHALOM!
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