“Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.” Pro 30:5-6 NLT
In this week’s verse we find both a comfort and a warning. Fundamentally it is about truth and lies.
It should not surprise us that tucked in between verses that illustrate the wisdom of the ages the ages, we find a statement as to the trustworthiness of the Word of God. That is wisdom indeed – that we can trust God’s Word because it is tested. We learn that it is a shield for those who need refuge. It is a Word we are not to add to or subtract from. And it is a Word that God will protect to the point of proving that all who add to it are liars.
A True Word – The first thing we are told is that every Word of God is true, or in some translations it is described as “tested”. Those who mock the thought that we can trust every word in God’s Word need to realize that such a statement is not just made by theologians – but by God’s Word itself. The idea of these words being tested refers to the smelting process of silver or gold. The smelting is done by exposing these metals to heat – intense heat – and those bringing out all the impurities in them. What is left over is pure gold or silver. God’s Word has been thoroughly tested and purified so that what we have is reliable – it is the smelted pure gold – and we can trust its purity.
A SHIELD – This Word serves as a shield to those who take refuge in God. Here we see that God’s Word is equated with God Himself. Of course, this should not shock us because what a person says ought to be true of the person. What a good reminder though that God is good for every word He speaks. A wise man would note this and look to God’s Word for the ultimate promises in his or her life.
ADDING TO GOD’S WORD – Don’t add to God’s Word is the warning given here. There are groups that have done just that. The Mormons have done so by adding the Book of Mormon to it. The Jehovah’s Witness group has mistranslated it, and in so doing have built an entire doctrine around denying the deity of Jesus Christ. Numerous other groups have proven foolish doing these same things only to be proven false when we examine the truth. The destruction that faces those who do such things and who adhere to such things is beyond our comprehension, for many will only become aware of their error in the judgment.
PROVEN A LIAR – Those who decide to add to God’s Word will have the unfortunate position of being proven liars. God promises personally to reprove those who do this. The Word used here for reprove has a legal sense to it – that the person will find a case against them – one with a judgment as well. There is also a sense in which this is a personal reproof – a rebuke. The judgment that will be rendered to those who add to God’s Word is that of being a liar – a proven liar. We consider such words strong indeed. Yet God does not take lightly to those who would add to His Word their own thoughts and ideas.
It is important to have something upon which we can build our lives. There needs to be some kind of bedrock document – some truth upon which our lives can be built. The philosophies of our day disdain such truth – or at least disdain that there is a universal truth upon which all men can base their lives. Instead, they hold to an individual truth which all men can hold simultaneously in their hearts – even if their truths radically contradict one another. Yet, despite all the volumes written and all the speeches given – their truths still stand as the lies of rebellious men who think they know better than God. God’s truth has stood throughout time as THE TRUTH. It has stood, will stand, and will be the very basis upon which the ultimate judgment shall be rendered. When looked at in that light we can see the wisdom in holding fast to God’s words as they have been given to us. To do otherwise would simply to be to add our name to the list of liars who will be proven wrong throughout history and who, if not in the immediate – in the ultimate – will be shown to be those who misrepresent the truth.
God’s Word is inerrant (without error) and infallible (it never fails). We can trust God and His Word for every area of our lives. We don’t change God’s Word to fit our culture, we pray to change culture to fit God’s Word.
This week find truth and shelter in the pages of God’s Word.
In His Hands,
John
