Thoughts From Proverbs 29

Exodus 20:16

¹⁶ “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Exodus 1:17-20

¹⁷ But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. ¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?” ¹⁹ The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.” ²⁰ So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty.

Joshua 2:3-6

³ And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” ⁴ But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. ⁵ It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” ⁶ But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.

It is very evident that both the midwives and Rahab lied to their inquisitors.  It is also written in Scripture that God blessed both the midwives and Rahab.  How is it to be understood? Do we have an ethical dilemma here?

There are three instances in the Scriptures where taking of life is not murder; a just war, protection of life and home; and capital punishment. 

In the same way there are times when questions do not demand a factual answer.  Such as:

1.      When the report sought is for an unjust reason as the killing of the Hebrew children was.

2.      When the report givers will unnecessarily destroy the reputation of a friend or neighbor.

3.      When something is given under an oath of secrecy and does not involve illegal or unethical behavior.

The 9th commandment is intended first to protect our neighbor’s property and reputation, secondly it demands honesty in all our normal relationships.  It is never dishonest to protect innocent virtue, and our neighbor’s reputation is sacred.

There is no demand for truth that requires you to tell anyone what they have no right to

know, no one has the right to information they can use to harm physically, mentally, or emotionally an innocent person; ie. the midwives informing how innocent babies could be found and slaughtered or how men divinely commissioned could be killed for obeying God.

There is no moral dilemma here and never when your answers protect the innocent.