KEEP FAR - - -

 In Exodus 23:7, we read this interesting command -- "Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not---"  There are many, many interesting and enlightening verses tucked away in the Word of God, and this is one of them!  Here in Exodus, the Lord is giving some judgments to the children of Israel, and in this 7th verse He admonishes them to keep far from a false matter -- to accuse no man falsely, and to beware of receiving a false report about our fellow man.  

These are difficult and trying times in our nation, and I think sometimes we are often quick to believe an accusing report against our brother.  This verse in Exodus goes on and seems to indicate that if we do not keep far from a false matter, we will slay the innocent and righteous!  Wow!  We think that sounds pretty rough, but it is easy for us to forget that words can slay, and once they are spoken Ecclesiastes tells us in the 10th chapter and 20th verse -- ". . .a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter."                                                                                                                                          In the 18th chapter of Proverbs, we read -- "A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.  The words of a talebearer are as wounds. . ."                                                                                     But I like the beautiful contrast in Proverbs 17:28 -- " . . .he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."                                                                                                                                          

So let us be careful to keep far from a false matter and slay not with our words.  Let us remember the admonition of the Psalmist in Psalm 34:13 --"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."  We know that the tongue is capable of much harm, so let us ask the Lord to help us guard our speech, and may this beautiful verse in Ephesians 4:29 come often to our mind as we endeavor to please Him who loved us and gave Himself for us -- "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." 

And when the devil comes knocking with a false matter, let's just let Jesus answer the door  and keep singing -- "I must tell Jesus!  I must tell Jesus!  Jesus can help me, Jesus alone."