In my reading today (2 Kings 10), and throughout the first part of the OT (David and Jonathan in the field, etc.), I'm sensing there are times when lying is not only justified, but encouraged. Case in point:
2Ki 10:16 Then he said, "Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!" So he let him ride with him in his chariot.
2Ki 10:17 When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained from the house of Ahab in Samaria until he had annihilated his house, according to the word of the LORD spoken to Elijah.
2Ki 10:18 Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.
2Ki 10:19 Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. None must be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live." However, Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.
2Ki 10:29 but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit--worshiping the golden calves that were in Bethel and Dan.
2Ki 10:30 Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel."
We see Jehu using dishonesty to carry out the Lord's will...and the Lord being pleased with it.
Why is that, and how does this translate to us today? Is it permissible to be dishonest in any given situation, depending on what it is?
Is lying ever good?
Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by webdog, Apr 10, 2007.
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The killing of the servants of Baal was what was good in God's sight, not the lying. Lying is never good.
Thou shalt not bear false witness. -
Lying played a part in carrying out the Lords will, though. It can't be separated from the entire act.
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God said 'Thou shalt not bear false witness'. He is not going to command His people to lie and then be pleased when they disobey Him and lie anyway
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How about that? -
Lying is not to be our way of life.
Our Christian testimony is at stake.
...but there seems to be some exceptions.
Rob -
Sure...
And while you are at it, why don't you go ahead and commit adultery in the name of the Lord? or covet that which belongs to your neighbor in the name of the Lord.
surely God did not mean it when He gave those commandments... -
How does that play into this discussion? Who's considered a "neighbor"...and is false witness OK in other circumstances?
I'm not trying to be argumentative here, I'm just curious. I have heard even "white lies" are sinful, and here what I see Jehu doing is a lot more than a white lie. -
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Lying seems to be much like killing in Scripture.
One should, in general, not kill or lie.
However, there are instances in which killing or lying may be acceptable. -
Telling the truth is not a sin.
Rob -
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Who would recomend to the employes of the CIA and other goverment inteligence agencies that they never lie.
How about police agencies. It would go something like this.
Criminal: How did you know my car was full of drugs?
Officer: Well Joe Blow ratted you off, he told us you had drugs and were selling them.
If you were the officer would you lie? -
What is "false witness"?
Also, don't forget that the Lord told David to lie. When David said, "I can't go up there, he'll kill me." The Lord said, "Just tell 'em that you came to worship."
Also, David lied to get Goliath's sword. (OK, it was more an obfuscation than a lie; he had been anointed king, so in that sense, he was king, but he had not ascended the throne.)
Also, the commandment is not to murder.
The Lord tells people to kill plenty of times. -
God did not tell David to lie.
If you read all of that passage God told Samuel to take an heifer with him. God wanted a sacrifice there. So God did not tell David to lie. -
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2KI 6:18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
2KI 6:19 Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria.
That was the road and that was the city and the man they wanted. :) Good passage to remember in times of tribulation.
God made the lie successful for Elisha.
john. -
God did not tell Elisha to lie.
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His Blood.
No but it was God blinding those men that caused the lie to work. How do you deal with, 1KI 22:23 "So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you."
And, 2 Thess 2:11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie
john.
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