"Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy." Jonah 2:8, NKJV.

"They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy." Jonah 2:8, KJV.

"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." Jonah 2:8, NIV.

Here are three versions of Jonah 2:8. It gives the sure formula for losing God’s mercy and grace. Whether you interpret this as lying or as clinging to idols, it really is the same.

Lying itself is an idol. Trusting in anything except the absolute truth is trusting in God’s enemy and your enemy. One of God’s names is Truth. When we trust in being honest, we are trusting in Jesus. Yet so many people play games with the truth, and bend it to help meet their immediate crisis. God wants to meet the needs of our immediate crisis with grace and mercy, but many are tying His hands with dishonesty.

"Buy the truth, and do not sell it…" (Proverbs 23:23a). Often the truth will cost us something, but it is always worth the price!

"But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." Jonah 2:9.

If any of us have trusted in the idol of lying, the grace and mercy of God is waiting there to cleanse us from all unrighteouness.

Larry Chkoreff, April 2001