Daily Sacrifice, January 22 (23:1,7)
“Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness ... Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked”— Exodus 23:1, 7.
It is so easy to do this. Sometimes just an unkind suggestion, which is taken up by others, will be exaggerated as it is spread abroad, until one who is utterly innocent will be blackened beyond the possibility of clearing himself. This, in God’s sight, is wickedness. To be “an unrighteous witness” is abhorrent to Him who is the God of truth. Our Lord Himself suffered in this way, when false witnesses rose up against Him, perverting His words and charging Him with offenses of which He was guiltless (Psa. 35:11; Mark 14:55, 56).
“Keep thee far from a false matter.” This is the only path of safety. Avoid all fellowship with those who indulge in the evil habits of slander and misrepresentation. God’s ear is ever open and He hears every false accusation, and will, in His righteous government, cause all such falsehoods to react against those who are guilty of promulgating them.