As you glance through this morning’s bulletin, you may notice a theme woven throughout: the contrast between truth and lies. We are invited into worship with a declaration that Jesus is “way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). We echo this sentiment at the end of the service when we sing to Him, “Thou art full of truth” (Jesus, Lover Of My Soul). The psalms acknowledge that we prosper when we walk in the truth (Blessed Are All They—Psalm 1) and encourage us to make His truth known to those around us (All Nations Clap Your Hands—Psalm 47). But even as we declare our love for “truths unchanged from the dawn of time,” and our hope that “truth will prevail over unbelief” (Speak, O Lord), we must be aware of the presence of lies and falsehood in this fallen world. We read of the Jews’ lies at Paul’s trial (Acts 24:2-9). We sing psalms and hymns that warn of “false sons” within the faith (The Church’s One Foundation) and wicked foes without, who speak lies “with serpents’ tongues” (Do You Decree, O Earthly Gods—Psalm 58). We read of God’s hatred for “lying tongues” and “false witnesses” (Proverbs 6:16-19), and we confess our own propensity to engage in “crooked speech” (Proverbs 16:12). The danger posed by falsehood is strong—whether comfortable lies we tell ourselves or outrageous slander directed against us. Let’s make the words of this morning’s communion hymn (My Shepherd Will Supply My Need— Psalm 23) our prayer, that the Lord would continually lead us in “paths of truth of grace.”
—Henry C. Haffner
