Don’t Be Cute

(Proverbs 6:17 KJV)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Notice that “lying” (8267) is a recurring theme in these verses.  We often act like it is a small thing, natural to the human condition.  God rages at that “small thing”.  The lie perverts all it touches and it can touch anything.  As I look at the word and how it was used I noticed something I found insightful.  Although the Hebrew word is given as a noun, it is usually used as an adjective or adverb.  If you remember your grammar, those are parts of speech which modify nouns and verbs.  In other words they change the character of facts and actions.

This verse in an example.  The problem is not the “tongue” (3956) but the tongue that is “lying” (8267).  A neutral organ becomes an agent of evil.  The same can happen in any part of life.  We can lie by being silent.  We can lie by looking the other way.  We can lie by acting like we don’t understand.  We can lie by deliberately choosing words that may be technically accurate but still do not convey truth. 

God does not think it is cute, clever or creative.  Look back a verse.  It generates His hatred.

So?  Truth matters.  It matters to God.  It matters to our culture.  It had better matter to us.