January 22

Exodus 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, 71Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. (Exodus 23:1)
7Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. (Exodus 23:7).
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. 35:1111False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. (Psalm 35:11); Mark 14:55, 5655And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. 56For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. (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.
“I have so much to do, before my work on earth is through―
I spoke a word in haste today; I must retrieve it while I may.
An unkind thought, perhaps of hate, I tried to catch but was too late. —
How willful was the look of scorn, I gave it in the early morn.
The little lie was easy told, because it made my story bold―
I lost a chance to smile today; instead I scowled and turned away.
I saw a beggar with a cup; I only looked and passed him up.
I didn’t help across the street the aged man with faltering feet.
A blind man’s voice, untrained and loud, I heard above the noisy crowd—
He sang eternal light and love, of meadows green and skies above…
I saw, I heard, I knew my wrong; I learned it from the blind man’s song!”