WORDS

OF
TRUTH

Lesson 9 for February 28, 20

What is truth? (John 18:38).

Solomon wrote about the truth
and honesty in Proverbs 2224.
1.The truth about truth
(22:17-21)
2.The truth about divine justice
(22:22-23; 23:10-11, 18)
3.The truth about envy
(23:17; 24:1-2, 19-20)
4.The truth about food and
beverage
(23:1-8; 29-35)
5.The truth about responsibility

The truth
about

TRUTH

Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my

instruction In this way, you may know the truth
(Proverbs 22:17, 21)

Truth is more than knowledge. It is an

experience that transforms people. It is
a close relationship with the Truth; that
is, with Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
How can I get the truth?
1. Listen and pay attention.
Incline your ear and hear
(22:17).
2. Make it yours.
If you keep them within
you (22:18).
Which is the fruit of
3. Speak about it.
truth?
1. Faith and confidence.
Let them all be fixed upon
So that your trust may be
in the
your
lips (22:18).
Lord (22:19).
2. Conviction.
the certainty of the words of truth
(22:21).

DIVINE JUSTICE

The truth
about
Do not rob the poor because he

Do not remove the ancient

landmark, nor enter the fields
of the fatherless. (Proverbs 23:10)

is poor, nor oppress the afflicted

at the gate. (Proverbs 22:22)

For the Lord will plead their cause,

and plunder the soul of those who
plunder them. (Proverbs 22:23)

Stealing or moving the

landmark was forbidden by
the law (Leviticus 19:13;
Deuteronomy 19:14). But
God emphasized the act of
doing evil to the poor or
the orphan (that is, to
those who are more
For their Redeemer is mighty;
vulnerable
than we are).
He will plead their cause against
you.

There is surely
a future hope
for you, (23:18
NIV) and God
will do justice.

(Proverbs 23:11)

The truth
about

ENVY

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the
fear of the Lord all the day. (Proverbs 23:17)
Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire
to be with them. (Proverbs 24:1)
Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be
envious of the wicked. (Proverbs 24:19)

What can we envy the sinners for?

We obviously dont envy their sins. We
envy the immediate reward of them:
riches, success, power
Gaining those things through sin isnt
good at all. Using sin to obtain
something is like buying vapor instead
of eternal life.
God wants us to hate sin. We must be
aware of the cost of sin (the cross).
That way we will appreciate the future

While the Christian will be

ever kind, compassionate, and
forgiving, he can feel no
harmony with sin. He will
abhor evil and cling to that
which is good, at the sacrifice
of association or friendship
with the ungodly. The spirit of
Christ will lead us to hate sin,
while we are willing to make
any sacrifice to save the
sinner.
E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, cp. 16, pg. 171)

The truth
about

FOOD AND
Solomons words are crystalWhen you sit down to eat with
BEVERAGE
a ruler, consider carefully what
is before you, and put a knife
to your throat if you are a
man given to appetite.
Do not desire his delicacies,
for they are deceptive food
Do not eat the bread of a
miser, nor desire his
delicacies; for as he thinks in
his heart, so is he.
Eat and drink! he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
The morsel you have eaten,
you will vomit up, and waste
your pleasant words.
(Proverbs 23:1-3, 6-8)

clear: eat healthy and control

your excesses (especially
when social dining).
The miser often raise their
evil plans after a business
meal, just when the mind is
dull after so much food.

The truth
about

FOOD AND
Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
BEVERAGE
Who has contentions? Who has
complaints? Who has wounds
without cause? Who has redness of
eyes? Those who linger long at the
wine, those who go in search of
mixed wine. Do not look on the
wine when it is red, when it
sparkles in the cup, when it swirls
around smoothly; at the last it
bites like a serpent, and stings like
a viper. Your eyes will see strange
things, and your heart will utter
perverse things. Yes, you will be
like one who lies down in the midst
of the sea, or like one who lies at
the top of the mast, saying: They
have struck me, but I was not
hurt; they have beaten me, but I
did not feel it. When shall I
awake, that I may seek another
drink? (Proverbs 23:29-35)

Noah never imagined the

shame he would feel after
distilling alcohol.
Those who often get drunk
didnt get to that bottomless
pit suddenly. Alcohol began
to rule them little by little.
They realize they are being
dominated too late.
Alcohol destroys people and
families. Remove it from
your life.

The truth
about

RESPONSIBILITY

Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling
to the slaughter. If you say, Surely we did not know this, does not He who
weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? (Proverbs 24:11-12)

When I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you

There is no
shall surely die! and you do not speak to warn the
excuse before
wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his
God for not
iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
saving someone
Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his
from physical or
way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die
in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.
spiritual death
(Ezekiel 33:8)
when we are
Weable
are responsible
for both the
do so.
words we say and the words we
leave out (24:23-28).
We must honestly report what
we see and hear, so we dont
become accomplices of the
sinner (that way we can save
souls).
Truth is the most safe and