The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. Proverbs 18:8
Gossip is a sin that is too often ignored in the church. We think it is one of those things that is out there - and it will continue to be out there. Many see it almost as a victimless act - but the proverb today lets us know that even if everything looks OK on the outside of this sin - the inner workings of it are very dangerous. The "whisperer" is the gossip. The Hebrew word means one who gossips - but does so by murmuring and complaining. It actually means to excessively complain - and the word is used in passages that create serious relational problems between men - and between man and God. It is combined with other sins like complaining, criticism, faultfinding, and causing trouble. When God experienced these things with Israel in the wilderness in the book of Numbers, He had very strong reactions against it. No matter how we define gossip and a complaining, murmuring spirit - God defines it as very serious wickedness. He deals with this sin very severely. Why is God so opposed to this particular sin? It is because when someone hears gossip and complaining, it is like a dainty morsel to them. Think of gossip like you would your worst craving for a food you know you should not eat. For me this would be homemade chocolate chip cookies. I can resist these for a time - but the problem is that being my version of "dainty morsels" - my ability to resist is limited. Now, if someone set out broccoli puffs, the ability to resist is not a matter of power - it is a matter of not really wanting them in the first place. Thus, some sins are dangerous because of what they present as well as what they promote. Gossip is one of these. Consider your own response to someone who says, "Did you hear about so and so?" Imagine how difficult it is to resist statements like, "I can't believe what I heard the other day about this person." These kind o statements are very difficult to resist. Consider also the gossip magazines that are at the check-out lines at your local grocery store. Why are they so tempting - and why do they sell - even though many times what they say is either completely false - or an exaggeration of the truth. It is because the thought of knowing something about someone else that is supposed to be secret is something that is very difficult to resist. The other reason that this sin is so dangerous is that when we hear these things - Scritpure tells us that they go into the "innermost parts of the body." The literal Hebrew says that these statements go to the chambers of the belly. That is why they are dangerous and difficult to control. These statements of gossip are embedding themselves into the innermost part of our being. We tend to remember and focus on the complaints, the gripes, the criticism and fault-finding that others throw out at us. We look at the person against whom such criticism is leveled with a jaded eye after hearing these things. They color how we see them and how we respond to them - and usually we respond negatively after hearing such things. Unfortunately this is the case whether such things are true or false. That is why the very word used for whisperer here is identified with those who cause relational troubles between people. So how do we deal with this sin - in ourselves and in others. First of all we refuse to participate in gossip ourselves. One principle that is helpful is to use any information we have about others that could be the source of gossip and criticism as fuel for intercessory prayer rather than gossip. When we do this we will insure that we only eat our dainty morsels in the presence of God. There we take such information and use it in mercy - to pray for someone. We never use it for judgment - to injure them with words that we speak to others. Secondly we refuse to listen to gossip from others. Elsewhere in Proverbs we read that an angry countenance will send away a backbiting tongue. Two things I try to do personally when gossip comes my way is to first say that I would prefer not hearing it. When someone seems to want to persist, I then tell them I will listen - but only for the purpose of getting them together with the person with whom they have a problem within a couple of weeks. This has led to two things. It has led to people stopping the gossip from being spoken - and it when someone continues - it has led to me becoming a peacemaker between them and the person with whom they are offended. Oh, and as people have gossipped about how I deal with gossip - it has led to the gossips avoiding me like the plague. Don't let the dainty morsels of gossip lodge themselves into your spirit. Refuse to hear it - and if someone persists take the role of a peacemaker. You will be doing yourself a favor first of all - and secondly, you will be causing blessing to come to the body of Christ as you do your part to stop this sin in its tracks when it seeks to come into your fellowship and divide the saints.
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The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, But the mouth of the upright will deliver them. Proverbs 12:6
The person who said, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," never read this proverb. We have before us here the full destructive power of someone's words - or at least the intent with which they speak them. But thankfully, we also have the truth that the words of a godly man are also powerful. Those described as "wicked" in this passage are those who are guilty. The word means someone in the wrong - who is guilty of an criminal offense. In the context of Scripture this word most often refers to one guilty of breaking God's Law - and thus one who has no desire to obey Him or submit to His ways. We read that the words of such a man "lie in wait for blood." A wicked and sinful man's words are harmful to others. It is so important to remember context here because just one verse earlier we were told that the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. They are filled with lies. The wicked seek to destroy people with their words. And their counsel will be harmful if followed, since it is driven by the fallen nature of man. For just a moment I want to equate the words of the wicked with some more modern things. It is one thing to see a wicked man whose words are like a scorching fire as they are spoken. But it is another to consider the words of the wicked in other forms. Ever consider the words of the wicked that are written down for a book or a script? Far too many do not consider reading and going to see the words of the wicked portrayed on a big screen. They are unaware of the worldview that is being portrayed for them. They are unaware of the danger of this medium and how it lulls us to sleep when we should be alert and awake. Here the words of the wicked do lie in wait for blood. They come upon people unawwares because they do not ever consider how the ungodly seek to influence us through their various mediums of communication. To be perfectly honest, these forms of getting their "words" out are more effective than just speaking because of how ignorant the church is to their real agenda. A movie maker trying to go to a church and tell the people to be sexually immoral would be escorted out of the building quickly, but when he puts those ideas into a romantic comedy starring two unmarried people, the saints pay to go see it. Either way he gets his message out - but how more effective it is when dressed in the garb of modern entertainment. A man or woman would never think of going to a random house to peek through their bedroom window at their sex life, yet they think nothing of watching a love scene through the window of the local movie theater. The second part of this proverb tells us that the mouth of the upright will deliver them. This could be taken one of two ways. First it can mean that the righteous man - by speaking godly words - by speaking the Word of God - is delivered from the designs of the wicked. It can also refer to others to whom the righteous man speaks. He declares God's Word, and by doing so delivers those who are too easily duped by the words of the wicked. This reminds us of how vital it is for us to "hear God's words" every day. I say this not to encourage us to try to hear God's audible voice - but to remember that He has given us the Word of God - which are His words. If we will take the time to get into the presence of the Lord each and every day - with the purpose of hearing God speak His Word to us as we read the Bible - we will find great deliverance through this. Note here that we read that this is the mouth of the "upright." This word is the Hebrew word "yashar" and it means to be straight, just, and right. It refers to an ethical standard - and that standard is found in God's Word. When we learn to speak the truth to ourselves and to others, we will also see that deliverance is provided as God works in us to remind us of the truth - to warn us of danger - and to call us to holiness of life. An interesting dichotomy is presented here for us. The wicked want our blood - God our deliverance. The godless have a plot against our lives by their decietful counsel and wicked words. The upright speak what will deliver us. May God give us wisdom to see these things for what they are - a warning to us to hear God's Word - not just once a week, but every day as we meet with the Lord. "For my mouth will utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. Proverbs 8:7
Wisdom is calling to us to come and learn wisdom from her. Her call is to all places where we walk and live. Her comes everywhere - and if we will listen we will be blessed throughout every day. Wisdom wants to assure us what we will receive when we heed the Spirit's desire to teach and instruct us. Wisdom will utter truth to us. The word "mutter" here is very instructive in how wisdom works in our lives. This word means "to growl, groan, sigh, or mutter." It means figuratively to meditate or to ponder. When wisdom speaks to us - it will often be as we take the time to meditate upon and ponder what God's Word says to us. Psalm 1 and Joshua 1:8 promise blessing and prosperity to those who meditate upon the Word of God. A wise man is one who meditates upon the things of the Lord - who meditate on the Word of God. The Spirit of God will speak to us when we meditate - and He will guide us into wisdom and understanding when He does. Want wisdom? Then learn to ponder and think about the Word when making decisions about your future and decisions. Wisdom also assures us what we WON'T hear when God speaks to our hearts by His Holy Spirit. We are told that wickedness is an abomination to the lips of wisdom. When we listen to the Lord as He teaches us the Word, we can be assured that we will NOT hear anything wicked. This actually will help us to know when the Spirit of God is speaking and when He is NOT speaking. If we hear something wicked - it is NOT the Spirit of God offering His wisdom to us. Too often people make really ignorant decisions when they think they've heard God. But if they are counselled to do something ungodly - something wicked - something unscriptural - it is NOT God speaking. But if we hear truth - and realize the ramifications of what His wisdom would have us do - then we are hearing the Spirit of God. Once again the Word "mutter" is so helpful to us in understanding God's ways here. We will much more likely be receiving God's wisdom when we are taking the time to think and ponder God's Word than in doing any other activity we can do. It is the mouth of God who is speaking truth to us as we mutter to ourselves concerning what the Word of God says. God is wanting to speak truth to us - to lead us in His way. But to hear Him we need to take the time to ponder and seriously think about what the Word of God says to us. When we do - we will enter into the counsel of God as He speaks to us about what is right in God's eyes. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. Proverbs 18:4
Deep waters . . . that is how the Bible describes the words of the mouths of men. They can be deep waters. You hear what they are saying - but do you fully understand what they really mean. The times where I thought I knew what someone was saying - and found out later I did not yet know as I should have known are more than I care to remember. This is why miscommunication happens so often. It is because many of us are very deep wells. We say something out loud - but the meaning of what we've said lays much deeper within us. To try to fully understand it we'd really have to take an expedition into the deep recesses of our minds and our souls. The fountain of wise is much different. It is a bubbling brook. God offers to us much wisdom in the Scriptures. Contrary to what some people say - the vast majority of this wisdom is easy to grasp. The Bible is not a hidden document that requires some kind of decoder to understand. It is plainly written and says very plain things in very plain language. There is a beautiful Scripture that helps us understand how God's Word comes to us as a bubbling brook. In John 7 Jesus said that if we thirsted and drank from Him, out of our innermost being would flow rivers of living water. Then we read that this is the ministry which the Holy Spirit would bring to our lives. Do you realize that God has given you a teacher, the Holy Spirit, who desires to be rivers of living water in your life? Do you realize that God wants to have His wisdom flow in rivers of living water from you - and within you? There is a fountain of wisdom the Lord wants to manifest in and through you - a bubbling brook of water that will refresh your soul and grant you wisdom when you need it during your day. Learn to turn to the Lord for that wisdom - for grace to deal with decisions and difficult situations in your life. It will not be like one drawing water from a deep well - but rather will be the Lord working by His Spirit - bubbling up the wisdom you need from the Scriptures - and giving you the guidance you need for each and every situation. James put it this way, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God and it will be given to him." Turn to God with all your questions and decisions - then trust Him to grant you that bubbling brook of wisdom as His Spirit brings His Word to your mind. An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. Proverbs 17:4
What does it say about us if we are willing to listen to evil thing and to wicked statements? What kind of lesson should we learn from the shame of having listened to someone who says damaging things about others - and their motives are far from pure in saying such things. Anyone who lives in this world knows that there are plenty of people who speak with wicked lips. It is a liability of living in a fallen world that this is the case. So the fact is that we will hear plenty of wicked things said each wek we are alive. But the proverb does not speak about over hearing wicked things being said. It speaks to those who "listen" to these things. Listen is the word "qasab" and it means to listen carefully to something - to pay attention and to give heed to it. Most of all this kind of listening intends eventually to obey what it is listening to when it hears. This is why we read that an evil DOER listens to wicked lips. It is because they listen with an intent to obey and to be influenced in a bad way. When we pay attention to those with a "destructive tongue" we have another problem coming in the future. The destructive tongue is one that speaks so as to cause destruction and calamity. The word in the Hebrew has the idea of someone who has a destructive desire toward others. Here is something that unfortunately has run amok in our society. We have people seeking to destroy others with their words. They want to destroy and cause havoc with what they say. Too often this is the level of political discourse in our country. We have both sides desiring to destroy the other with their words. What everyone pretty much knows is that whatever is said is either blown out of proportion, or is a total lie altogether. Thus, when we listen to such things - we will find ourselves eventually lying just like the ones to whom we listen. Thus the proverb warns us that a liar pays attention to these things. Those who constantly listen to lies will in time speak the same way as they are hearing. These things both begin with what we listen to and pay attention to in our lives. In time what enters our ears will make its way to our hearts - and we know from the Word that what is in our hearts will eventually come out of our mouths. This progression is unavoidable. Therefore we need to heed closely the admonition of Scripture, "Be careful what you listen to!" Wisdom is too exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate. Proverbs 24:7
Wisdom is costly - and it is something that requires commitment to have in our lives. Those who have gained any wisdom knows this. Wisdom requires an investment of time and effort. One who desires wisdom must gather wisdom by reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating upon God's Word. One who desires wisdom also will desire to be in the presence of God and godly men who will speak wisdom as they listen intently. Wisdom also requires an investment of life or living. One who has wisdom - true wisdom - lives it out each and every day. The wise man bucks the world when the world tells him to go his own way. The wise man does not run with the worldly crowd when the run headlong into a pursuit of their own lusts and desires. The wise man will make difficult choices that will of necessity require him to die to self. He will walk contrary to the fools who gather and approve each others foolishness. He will speak and live wisdom when it is in season - but more importantly when it is not. This is why wisdom is too high for the fool. He will not open his mouth in the gate. The gate was the place of decision making - the place where the elders gathered and offered their wisdom for the good of the city. Blessed is that land - that city whose gate is filled with men of wisdom. Blessed are they because the fool will not open his mouth there - for the very reason that wisdom prevails in that place. Very unfortunate is that city - that state - that people who have surrounded themselves first with their own foolishness - and ultimately with fools who sit in the gate. Theirs will be a land that multiplies foolishness - and pays for it dearly in their captivity to their own lusts and desires - and in the future - captivity to others who exploit their foolishness to gain the ascendency over them. It is better for us that the fools of our society not have the freedom to open their mouths in the gate -and that foolishness is seen for exactly what it is - foolish. Keil and Delitzsch make a wonderful comment about this when they say, "Wisdom is to the fool too high; the way to wisdom is to him too long and too steep, the price too costly." For this reason the fool is unwilling to make the climb, pay the price, or make the sacrifice necessary to gain wisdom. The wise man does not see the cost - but the jewel. He does not see the climb - but the panoramic view. He does not see the sacrifice - but the victory in the end. Wisdom is indeed exalted, high, and pricey - but is worth every penny, every sacifice, and every labor to attain. The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3
Loose lips sink ships. This was a saying used during WWII to speak of the need to be careful of what someone said - because if the enemy were to gain knowledge - it might result in the sinking of one of our vessels as it was in the European theater of the war. This saying could be changed to "loose lips, sink lives," according to the proverb today. Let's take a closer look and see why this is so. The one who is "guarding" his lips is the one who watches over what comes out of them. He keeps himself from speaking outside of what God wants to be said. He sets a guard over his lips so that he does what Joshua was told in the first chapter of the book using his name. Do not let the book of the law depart from your mouth. The wise man in guarding his mouth - also is guarding and preseving his very life. There are so many ways that our mouths can get us in trouble. Think about the number of times we've seen public figures not watch their mouths and pay for it dearly when things were said that ruined them. Remember Jesus said that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. So what comes out of our mouths reflects what truly is in our hearts. That is why it is so vital that we guard what actually comes out of them. The proverb also deals with the person who says that they can say whatever they want. This is true, but there is a cost for this kind of attitude. That cost is ruin. The word means to be destroyed, to be ruined. It also has the idea of terror and fear. We may think we can say anything we want - but the fact is that when truly stupid statements are made - the devastation they render can be terrifying. You can watch someone fall from tremendous heights of power and public opinion in a matter of hours when their mouths are not guarded in what they say. The guarded mouth is the wise mouth. We all have things we want to say - but we know that such things often are better left unsaid - and honestly - repented of in our hearts. To leave our mouths without any kind of guard or watch is like leaving a post in battle unguarded. It will lead to ruin. From the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence. Proverbs 13:2
How we speak will often determine the level of blessing we enjoy in our lives. Now I do not speak of the way some mention words as if by our speaking we can create blessing and curse. This is the name it claim it crowd - who think merely mentioning we might be sick will insure we are because of our unbelief and our disobedience. This doctrine is just theological wind. What the proverb is teaching us is that when it comes to how we speak - what we give is often what we get. On the good side of things, the man who speaks what is good and uses his mouth to build up and love others - will in turn enjoy that same good as it comes back to him. It is interesting that the proverb states the from the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good things. What is the fruit of the man's mouth - that is mentioned here? It is not just the words he speaks - but what they lead to that is the focus of this passage. We speak something or say it. Where does that lead? If we speak godless, critical, unholy words, we will most definitely receive a harvest from these words. That is what the writer of Proverbs is trying to tell us. Be careful what you speak - because there is a harvest of your words that is coming. You can enjoy good from what you speak - and you can experience bad as well. There is a contrary aspect to how we speak. We read here of the desire of the treacherous man next. There are those whose mouths are filled with treachery and violence. They speak things that should not be said. Their mouths are used to injure rather than build up and encourage. Their mouths are unkind and unloving - and the end of their words is violence. How we need to see this and realize that our words and our mouths will pave a way for us. When we use them rightly our words pave the way for good things coming back to us. But when we become treacherous, deceitful, and ungodly in our speaking - it too will come back upon us - but only in the way of violence and problems. Watch how you speak. It will determine what is coming to you in the end. Speak and act as those who know that they will be judged by God for every idle word we speak. That way you know that there is a harvest of your words that is coming - and you will receive your just dues based on the words that you chose to use - whether good or evil. He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23
The mouth and the words that come out of it are a matter of great interest to the Lord. He gives much counsel on how our mouths should and should not be used. We would be wise to listen well and do what the Lord says about our mouths. Here the wisdom of God is to guard your mouth and your tongue. Why? The mouth and tongue are used to form words - and those words can be very dangerous. James chapter 3 tells us that the tongue is a deadly evil full of poison. We are also told by James that the tongue can set the whole course of our life on fire. That, my friends is a dangerous thing. But when you consider this counsel, also consider how many times a stray word spoken by an official - spoken by a commentator - spoken by a sports figure can set their entire life on fire. I remember the Republican Senate Leader Trent Lott's comments that were considered racist by many in the media. We don't know unless we can enter into Senator Lott's heart whether he is actually a racist or not - but that did not matter. His words were spoken without thinking - and the result was that his entire life was set on fire with controversy. The air waves were filled with shock and horror over what he said - and before things were over - he was forced out of a position he spent years trying to achieve in politics. One quote destroyed an entire career in his case. That is why Proverbs tells us that the one who "guards" his mouth and tongue - guards his soul from troubles. The word "guard" here is "shamar" and means to watch and keep like a guard or like a person standing guard in a military situation. We are not just to casually look at what might come out of our mouths, we are to stand guard over our mouths - and make sure that nothing comes out of it that will cause us trouble and grief later. This kind of guarding requires us to literally "THINK BEFORE WE SPEAK!" Some people say that we need to just speak what is on our minds - which is a great way to get in serious trouble. We should speak what our minds have processed with wisdom and discretion. That way we guard our soul from troubles. Oh, dear saints of God - listen to this admonition of the wise man and guard your mouth closely. It only takes one little comment to set your life on fire - be wise then and make sure that such words are guarded against at the gate of your mouth - the place where wisdom reigns in your mind! |
Proverb a DayEach day, we'll take a look at a verse from the chapter of Proverbs for the day. Our hope is to gain wisdom each day - and from that wisdom - to have understanding to make godly decisions in the throes of everyday life. Thank you for visiting our website! Everything on this site is offered for free. If, however, you would like to make a donation to help pay for its continued presence on the internet, you can do that by clicking here. The only thing we ask is that you give first to the local church you attend. Thank you!
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