Yesterday we started our journey at the end of Ahab’s journey. We saw how his covetous nature led both himself and his nation into peril. Today we look at the bearing of false testimony. We go back to a particular verse where Jezebel convinces Ahab to bear false testimony against Naboth.
Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters which she had sent them. They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. Then the two worthless men came in and sat before him; and the worthless men testified against him, even against Naboth, before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. (1Ki 21:1-13 NASB)
What is a worthless man? How depraved does a human need to become to give false evidence? According to the mitzvah, two witnesses is a thing established. (Deut 19:15) This is the reason behind Heaven and Earth being a witness against us, or how on Yeshua’s trial “...many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent.” (Mar 14:56 NASB). Let’s dive further into what it means to be “worthless”.
The word for worthless is belı̂ya‛al. Here’s a quick Strong’s definition.
בְּלִיַּעַל
belı̂ya‛al
bel-e-yah’-al
From H1097 and H3276; without profit, worthlessness; by extension destruction, wickedness (often in connection with H376, H802, H1121, etc.): - Belial, evil, naughty, ungodly (men), wicked.
Let’s go even further and look at the pictorial language.
Beyt-lamed-yud-ayin-lamed
Quite literally the house is being strongly led by the hand and eye. What can that mean? As you can see, Abba is not in charge of the worthless man’s house. It is the work of his own hands and his own perspective. In other words, man and not YHWH, decides what is right and is led to do works bringing about his own view of “good”. This is the same picture of the cycle of Israel in Judges, everyone did what is right in their own eyes. It is the same sin which stretches all the way back to the Garden. Where the temptation to know the knowledge of good and evil ultimately lead to the downfall of humanity and the forfeiture of immortality. The worthless man cannot discern between good and evil and will actively work about his own ends.
Two worthless men came under the employment of Jezebel to bear a false witness on Naboth. But what of the person who knows that “two witnesses is a thing established” is the Torah? Who willfully allows two men to bear false testimony? This is Jezebel. The divisive force which will bring down a kingdom. And the man who allowed this to happen? The man is Ahab. The man who became sullen and vexed because he could not possess what was not rightfully his.
Jezebel seeks division. She is willing to go to the lengths of employing Abba’s Law to meet her ends. Ahab is the man who willfully let this division enter his kingdom and profited from it.
Much like Ahab, we too are prone to allowing false testimony to enrich ourselves. Any time we would tear someone else down to elevate ourselves is the same as Ahab. Perhaps there is that person you cannot stand. How do you speak of them to others? Unfortunately we live in a day where honor has been devalued. That we no longer look at every human with the God-given worth intrinsic of being an image bearer of Yah. Words are said, sometimes even under the guise of anonymity in virtual spaces. Honor is attacked, and unfortunately there is no way to restore honor anymore short of going to court in a defamation case.’
We live in a culture where guilt is assigned regardless of evidence or witness. But do not be dismayed. It is Abba who gives you honor. It is the creator of the universe who would kneel down at your side and wash your feet. It is a humiliating thing, to know that Yeshua would give himself for your life. Likewise we are now to consider others more important than us. We are not to allow our own eyes and hands to give us what we want, but to give others value by becoming the servant of all. Do not be worthless, instead give others their worth.
Guest post by J. Cameron Mooney - jcameron.mooney [@] gmail [.] com