One day one of my granddaughters, who was visiting asked in a matter-of-fact way, “Grandpa, are all men liars?” Not sure how to take the question in order to give an answer, I asked, “Who said they are?” She replied, “Someone said it was in the Bible.” This qualification was astonishing by itself because she had never mentioned any interest to that point about the Bible. And before I could begin any type of “teachable moment”, she followed up by saying, “I don’t really care, but I figured you had heard this before.” Out of the mouths of babes.
That quote is a paraphrase of commentary from Psalm 116:11 (KJV). David describes the stress he was feeling because of events occurring around him. It is important when reading any story to look at the context of a particular line or in this case verse of scripture. While we may agree or disagree with what we are reading, we owe it to ourselves to find out what point is being made. This is where context comes in. If we look at the preceding verses, we gain insight into what was happening to David that brought on this comment. v.3 (NIV) says this:
“The cords of death entangled me; the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.” The descriptive imagery of his words, helps us to see a man who clearly feared he was about to die. He did what any of us should do if we are faced with mortal danger. He cried out to the Lord:
4 “Then I called on the name of the Lord; “Lord, save me!” 5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. 6 The Lord protects the unwary, when I was brought low, he saved me.”
David doesn’t tell us what danger he faced at the time he wrote this, but regardless, he was saved. These verses tell us that even when we are unaware of the source of our danger, God protects us and saves us. Now that he has been taken out of danger, he reflects on the moment, and realizes what has happened:
10 “I trusted in the Lord when I said, ‘I am greatly afflicted’; having realized what has happened, he confesses that he has made an error in judgement. 11 “in my alarm (haste) I said, “Everyone is a liar.”
While it is true that everyone has or will lie about something, is it possible that at some stressful point in our lives, we were told something truthful, yet we rejected it as a lie? The good news here is that David did receive the relief he was seeking because he began this verse by saying : “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy, 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”
…” I am the way and the truth and the life.” (Jn 14:6).