The world seems ablaze with misinformation, especially relating to health, elections, economy, and war. Despite increased fact-checking efforts by journalists and independent agencies, instant access to information has proliferated opportunities to misguide, confuse, conspire, and contrive false realities to justify past or future actions. As access to information increases, is there a way to avoid being overrun by a swirl of manipulative information?
While use of misinformation is not new, it is currently sparking great strife and division even among families and friends. But in the Bible we can find illustrations of how a God-centered response to the disruption caused by misinformation, however hopelessly overwhelming it seems, can bring healing.
One such illustration is in the story of David. Before he became king, David was constantly subjected to misinformation concocted by King Saul, who felt threatened by David’s success. After David defeated Goliath, who had defied the armies of Israel, Saul became jealous when women of Israel proclaimed: “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (I Samuel 18:7). David’s slaying of the giant Goliath evidenced his humble worship of God and allegiance to King Saul, yet, the women’s praise of David upset Saul and caused him to think David might at some point overthrow him. Over the ensuing years, Saul repeatedly sought to kill David, but David’s trust in God always protected and delivered him from Saul’s wrath. Through it all, David never lifted a finger against the king.
