Topical Bible: Truth: The Evil People are not Valiant For

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In the biblical context, truth is a fundamental attribute of God and a cornerstone of His relationship with humanity. It is often juxtaposed with falsehood, deceit, and evil, highlighting the moral and spiritual divide between those who seek righteousness and those who pursue wickedness. The Bible frequently underscores the failure of evil people to uphold or be valiant for truth, illustrating their moral decay and spiritual blindness.

Biblical References:

1. Jeremiah 9:3 · "They bend their tongues like their bows; lies instead of truth prevail in the land, for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me," declares the LORD. This verse from Jeremiah paints a vivid picture of a society where deceit is rampant, and truth is neglected. The imagery of bending tongues like bows suggests a deliberate and aggressive distortion of truth, indicative of a people who have turned away from God and His righteous standards.

2. Isaiah 59:14-15 · "Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance; for truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey." Isaiah describes a societal collapse where truth is not only absent but actively suppressed. The absence of truth leads to a breakdown in justice and righteousness, creating an environment where those who seek to uphold truth are marginalized and persecuted.

3. Hosea 4:1 · "Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land!" Hosea's prophetic indictment against Israel highlights the absence of truth as a key factor in the nation's spiritual decline. The lack of truth is equated with a lack of knowledge of God, suggesting that truth is integral to understanding and relating to the divine.

Theological Implications:

Truth, in the biblical sense, is not merely factual accuracy but is deeply intertwined with the character of God and His revelation to humanity. It is a divine standard that reflects God's holiness and faithfulness. The failure of evil people to be valiant for truth is a reflection of their rebellion against God and their preference for darkness over light (John 3:19-21).

The Scriptures consistently call believers to be champions of truth, standing firm against the falsehoods and deceptions that characterize a fallen world. Ephesians 6:14 exhorts Christians to "stand firm, then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist," emphasizing the protective and stabilizing role of truth in the believer's spiritual armor.

Moral and Ethical Dimensions:

The absence of truth among the wicked is not merely a personal failing but has broader societal implications. When truth is not upheld, justice is perverted, and the vulnerable are exploited. Proverbs 12:17 states, "He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit." This highlights the ethical responsibility of individuals to speak and live truthfully, contributing to a just and righteous society.

In contrast, the righteous are called to be valiant for truth, embodying integrity and honesty in all aspects of life. This commitment to truth is a reflection of their allegiance to God and His commandments, as seen in Psalm 15:2, which describes the one who "walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart."

Conclusion:

The biblical narrative consistently portrays truth as a divine attribute and a moral imperative. The failure of evil people to be valiant for truth is a testament to their estrangement from God and their embrace of falsehood. In a world where truth is often compromised, the call to uphold and defend truth remains a central tenet of the Christian faith, reflecting the character of God and His desire for a just and righteous creation.

Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 9:3
And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth on the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, said the LORD.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

How to Make Use of Christ for Steadfastness, in a Time when Truth ...
... the wickedness and treachery of the heart, the evil example of ... the soul, and confirm
it in the truth in that ... eye him in his relations unto his people, as their ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xv how to make.htm

A Sermon Made by M. Hugh Latimer, at the Time of the Insurrection ...
... God, which may resist the assault in the evil day; it ... before and behind, and they
pretend much truth to the ... of peace, this disturbance among the people had not ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon made by m.htm

Courage
... itself; and whosoever does righteousness and speaks truth dwells in ... His Holy Spirit
to stand in the evil day, if ... There are too many people in the world"too ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xviii courage.htm

The Religion of Man
... have touched their hearts, and the inner truth has never ... tormenting the poor body,
and leaving the evil flesh untouched ... can look down on all the people who are ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xxi the religion of.htm

In the Hands of Giant Accuser
... And my sword of truth lay unused by my side ... Many newly sanctified people have been
overwhelmed, just as you have ... and then accuse you of being guilty of the evil. ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter seven in the hands.htm

Some General Uses from this Useful Truth, that Christ is the Truth ...
... 5. He will never, nay, "never leave his people, nor forsake them," Hebrews 13:5 ... 3.
There should be few found to befriend truth, and to own it in an evil day. ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xii some general uses.htm

A Letter of Mara, Son of Serapion.
... For the Athenians died by famine; and the people of Samos were covered by the sea ...
They rejoice in things evil, and a man that speaks the truth they despise ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents a letter.htm

The Minister's Farewell
... But evil has crept in, disguised in the mantle of ... If an unpleasant truth thrusts
itself on you, it is ... for a while succeed, and possibly your people will not ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/the ministers farewell.htm

Christ's People --Imitators of Him
... far from it; we are the freemen whom the truth makes free ... Good for evil, recollect,
is god-like ... I called upon week after week, to preach to this crowd of people. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/christs peopleimitators of him.htm

Pleading
... moment seek to deny one portion of the evil with which ... have said on anoher point,
the same truth holds good ... with him; but he paused because the people were too ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/pleading.htm