A Whisperer Separates Friends
August 8, 2020
Commentary
The words of an ungodly man who gets involved in gossip are like burning fire that pass from his lips and have the scorching malice of hell (v. 27). Gossip is no good! It causes hard feelings and division comes between friends (v 28).The things in this passage can happen to anyone (vv. 29-30). We need to be on guard ourselves and especially warn our children that there are people with strong personalities who will lead us “into the way that is not good.” Before we know it they will lead us into things that we would have never thought we would become involved in. Longevity of life is a result of righteous living but not all who have lived to be old have lived righteously (v. 31). Grey hair is a crown of glory when it adorns the head of a person who has lived a righteous life. It is true that grey heads can be seen among the wicked but there will be no glory there, just the traces of a body broken in the pursuit of sin. Only the person who lives his life for the Lord will experience the glory of God’s presence!
Men have conquered kingdoms who were defeated when it came to controlling their temper. A bad temper is often excused on the ground of natural infirmity, when in reality it is the evidence of pride and impatience. This suggests that having patience and a controlled temper is honored above being a soldier. In a land where safety depended on strength and skill in warfare, this statement may seem unusual. Yet this verse says that conquering oneself is of greater virtue than conquering a city (v. 32). We make our own decisions, but the Lord alone determines what happens (v. 33).
Application
There have been times when I have been caught up in taking sides and putting other Christians down. I want to try to prevent this from happening to me in the future. (I Peter 4:19-23).
Proverbs 16:27– 33 (NET)
27 A wicked scoundrel digs up evil, and his slander is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends.
29 A violent person entices his neighbor, and then leads him down a path that is terrible.
30 The one who winks his eyes devises perverse things, and one who compresses his lips has accomplished evil.
31 Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness.
32 Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.
33 The dice are thrown into the lap, but their every decision is from the Lord.