Proverbs 30
“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.” – Proverbs 30:5-6 NLT
Our God is reliable. You can always count on Him. You can trust everything He has ever said and depend on Him to follow through on every promise and commitment He has ever made. He doesn't lie, play fast and loose with the facts, attempt to deceive, or ever have to say He is sorry. He doesn't make mistakes. He never says or does the wrong thing – ever. Since the beginning of time, God has proven His faithfulness and trustworthiness over and over again, providing constant, unwavering protection and provision to His people in spite of their own unfaithfulness and rebellion. Over the centuries, God has had to watch as men have twisted His words and attempted to speak on His behalf and in His name. They have exclaimed, "Thus says the Lord," but they were unauthorized to speak for God. Over in the book of Ezekiel, God has some serious complaints about what is going on in the land of Israel.
Again a message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: In the day of my indignation, you will be like a polluted land, a land without rain. Your princes plot conspiracies just as lions stalk their prey. They devour innocent people, seizing treasures and extorting wealth. They make many widows in the land. Your priests have violated my instructions and defiled my holy things. They make no distinction between what is holy and what is not. And they do not teach my people the difference between what is ceremonially clean and unclean. They disregard my Sabbath days so that I am dishonored among them. Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money! And your prophets cover up for them by announcing false visions and making lying predictions. They say, ‘My message is from the Sovereign Lord,’ when the Lord hasn’t spoken a single word to them. Even common people oppress the poor, rob the needy, and deprive foreigners of justice."
The only thing we can count on in this world is God Himself. His Word is the only reliable source of truth. There are so many who want to speak for God, but fail to use His Word as their primary source. If they do use His Word, they tend to cherry pick verses, forcing them to support their own conclusions and giving God's Word meanings He never intended.
We live in a time much like that described above. One of the most disturbing statements is, "They make no distinction between what is holy and what is not." This was an indictment on the religious leaders of the day. They were no longer seeing things as God sees them. They had blurred the lines between the holy and the profane. They were accepting of and accommodating to things that God had declared unholy. They had become overly tolerant and excessively lenient. And God was not pleased. But even when those who represent God fail to faithfully honor Him, He can always be trusted. His Word can be depended upon. Our God is faithful and true. Which is why we must read, study, and obey His Word. We must ask His Holy Spirit to help us understand His Word. It is in the Bible that we find the truth of God revealed. It is in the study of the Bible that we come to know the truth about God and hear Him speaking to us. It can be trusted. It will be proved faithful and true just as He is.
Father, thank You for your faithfulness and reliability. Forgive me for the times when I doubt You or attempt to speak on Your behalf when I really haven't heard from You. Forgive me for any times I have tried to put words in Your mouth. Keep me dependent upon Your Word and reliant upon Your truth and faithfulness. Amen.