Proverbs 25:18

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about speaking truth vs speaking lies:

Proverbs 25:18 (NASV)

Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow

Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

Proverbs 25:18 (ESV)

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor

is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

People who tell lies and speak falsehoods against others are damaging.   As we see false testimony in a legal case so we see it everyday on the street.  The pain inflicted by an untruth is, according to Solomon, the same as being hit by a club, a sword or a sharp arrow.   That is painful.   Solomon is trying to show us the pain inflicted by the lack of truth.   Christ told us that the "truth will set us free."    Paul tells us that God's Word is Truth.    Jesus told the Pharisees they were of their father the devil and he was a liar from the beginning.   Satan told Eve half-truths and that was enough to cause Eve to sin and convince her husband to sin.   The pain from untruth is not, of course, always physical.  Solomon is giving us a word-picture about how painful it is in our lives.  We may not feel it like a club to the head.   But never-the-less, the pain of a lie is hurtful to the heart.   The next time you stretch the truth, hide the truth or divert the truth, you do great harm.   The harm hurts like a club, a sword and a sharp arrow.