Deuteronomy 13:12-18: a reflection

12If you hear about one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you to dwell there, that 13certain wicked fellows have gone out from among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods,” which you have not known, 14then you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination was done among you, 15you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, with all that is therein and its livestock, with the edge of the sword. 16You shall gather all its plunder into the middle of its street, and shall burn with fire the city, with all of its plunder, to the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again. 17Nothing of the devoted thing shall cling to your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger and show you mercy, and have compassion on you and multiply you, as he has sworn to your fathers, 18when you listen to the LORD your God’s voice, to keep all his commandments which I command you today, to do that which is right in the LORD your God’s eyes.

In giving Israel laws about dealing with a report that a city had turned to idolatry, God commands something worth noticing before any action was to be taken: You shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain. Before acting on the report, they were to inquire carefully, investigate diligently, and establish whether the thing was actually true. They were not to act on rumor or hearsay, but to establish the truth first, through diligent inquiry, before any action was taken.

Notice the command to establish the truth by diligent inquiry before acting. A serious report had come; but they were not to act on it at once, on the strength of rumor. They were to inquire, investigate, ask diligently, and establish whether it was actually true and certain. Only then, if the thing was established as true, were they to act. The command took seriously the danger of acting on unverified report; the truth was to be diligently established first, not assumed. Careful inquiry was to precede action, lest they act wrongly on rumor.

That command is worth taking to heart, for we can be quick to act or judge on rumor and hearsay, without establishing the truth. When we hear a report, especially a serious one against someone, we can be quick to believe it and act on it, without inquiring carefully whether it is actually true; but God commanded diligent inquiry to establish the truth before acting. Do not act or judge on the strength of rumor and hearsay, without establishing whether it is true; inquire carefully, investigate diligently, and establish the truth first, as God commanded before any action. Be diligent to establish the truth of what you hear before acting on it, especially a serious report against another, rather than acting or judging on unverified rumor, as God commanded Israel to inquire, investigate, and ask diligently before acting; for careful inquiry to establish the truth should precede action, lest we act wrongly on hearsay.

Lord, in giving Israel laws about dealing with a report that a city had turned to idolatry, you command something worth noticing before any action was to be taken: you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently; behold, if it is true, and the thing certain. Before acting on the report, they were to inquire carefully, investigate diligently, and establish whether the thing was actually true. They were not to act on rumor or hearsay, but to establish the truth first. Show me the command to establish the truth by diligent inquiry before acting. A serious report had come; but they were not to act on it at once, on the strength of rumor. They were to inquire, investigate, ask diligently, and establish whether it was actually true. Only then were they to act. The command took seriously the danger of acting on unverified report; careful inquiry was to precede action. Take that command to my heart, for I can be quick to act or judge on rumor and hearsay, without establishing the truth. When I hear a report, especially a serious one against someone, I can be quick to believe it and act on it, without inquiring carefully whether it is true; but you commanded diligent inquiry before acting. Keep me from acting or judging on the strength of rumor and hearsay, without establishing whether it is true; help me inquire carefully, investigate diligently, and establish the truth first, Lord, as you commanded. Help me be diligent to establish the truth of what I hear before acting on it, especially a serious report against another.