Category: lies / deception

A Naughty Tongue! #2

Friday, July 10, 2020

“A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue” (Proverbs 17:4 KJV).

In today’s world of widespread social media, “wicked doer,” “false lips,” “liar,” and “naughty tongue” are all appropriate nouns!

The Book of James says much about the tongue. For example, chapter 1: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth [restrains] not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (verse 26). Did you see how “vain [empty, worthless] religion” appears here? Keep that in mind as we continue surveying the Bible as touching the tongue.

Chapter 3 contains the bulk of the “tongue” statements found in James: “[1] My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. [2] For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. [3] Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. [4] Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

“[5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. [7] For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: [8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” Wow! What striking language this is! Why is it here?

As always, we “study… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). If we remember where James fits on the Bible timeline, and use it to look back in time at previous Divine revelation, we can grasp the culmination of man’s “naughty tongue….”

A Naughty Tongue! #1

Thursday, July 9, 2020

“A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue” (Proverbs 17:4 KJV).

In today’s world of widespread social media, “wicked doer,” “false lips,” “liar,” and “naughty tongue” are all appropriate nouns!

Many years ago, an elderly and dear sister in Christ (who has since moved on to be with the Lord) signed up for an account on a new social-media website. Within three months, the woman decided it was nothing but a “gossip column” and promptly deleted her account! No longer could she tolerate viewing the filth and reading the talebearing in which people were engaging. We can only wonder what that poor lady would say about social media today… a decade later!

Dear friend, re-read today’s Scripture: “A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.” The parallelism enables us to define the components of the verse. In other words, the “wicked doer” is simply the “liar;” the “false lips” correspond to the “naughty tongue.” God’s Word is clear. The reason someone willingly listens to a lie is because he or she is interested in circulating it as well. It is human nature to be attracted to drivel and defamation. Once we hear or read it, we enthusiastically pass it along to others so they can spread it too! (If we must propagate disparaging remarks, let us be sure to tell everyone Jeremiah 17:9! “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”)

The “naughty [Hebrew, “havvah”] tongue” of today’s Scripture appears in other verses. For example, see Psalm 38:12: “They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things [havvah], and imagine deceits all the day long.” Also, Psalm 52:2: “Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs [havvah]; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.” Man’s tongue—our tongue—is a disobedient or unruly organ. Whether thousands of years ago, right now, or in the future, the Holy Bible articulates uncomplimentary remarks concerning it. Saints, in this age of plenteous useless (!) chatter (!), we would do well to close our mouths and open our ears to the Word of God….