Proverbs 26: 17  He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

What then is the lesson for us New Covenant believers here.  

2 Thessalonians 3:11  For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.

As a believer in Christ, we all have an assignment by God to do what He has called us to do.  That is not being a part of meddling into other people's lives, but leaning on the direction of the Lord.

• While we are called to love and serve others, we have to guard against entering into the personal lives of others, but only as it is a mutual agreement. 

 ¹⁸ Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, ¹⁹ is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, “I was only joking!”

King Solomon is making another comparison here of a fierce warrior having many weapons, who is spreading destruction everywhere and comparing it to a deceptive neighbor, and when caught says "I was only joking."  Both are destructive with everything in both the warrior and the deceptive neighbor's hands.

• Here again we see the dangers of gossip because they become weapons in our mouths as we speak out against other people.  James 3:8 tells us that no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  
• Yes, our tongue is just as much of a weapon as a fierce warrior with all of his many weapons.  Both destroy!

²⁰ Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.  ²¹ As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.  ²² The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.

What we see here is an Old Testament version here in Proverbs to that of the New Covenant in James 3: 6 where is says:   Jms 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whle body and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 

Just as the wood fuels a fire, strife is fueled by gossiper who spreads tales on other people.  The fire will only stop just as soon as the gossiper and those who heard his tales stops repeating the gossip that is in the air.   Eventually, the wood of the fire will burn down and eventually be snuffed out.  The danger is, however, is what happened between the time of the gossip until the fire goes out.  Many people can be hurt, and like a tornado or a fire, it can bring much destruction and irreparable injury.  

• Again, no one can tame the tongue - except for we can shut our mouth when the temptation comes (and it will come) to gossip against someone.  Then, and only then, through the power of God operating within us, can we overcome this horrible sin of gossip in our heart.

We all know that there are circles of people who thrive on gossip, which then only spreads via the gossip chain that we all know about.  That does not, however, give us license to feed into that conversation of gossip, taking on the effects it could have on us internally as we, like victims of prey, receive that gossip in our heart.  That can greatly affect our opinion of the victim of the gossip prey, which may or may not be true.

• Actually, our responsibility is to stop gossip whenever we can.
  • We can walk away
  • We can speak out to say "does the person you are gossiping about know you are talking about them?
  • We can say, how can you verify that information?  You know this is gossip and unfair to that person you are talking about.
  • Or whatever else the Holy Spirit lays upon your heart to say.  

²³ Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

Earthenware covered with silver dross meaning  the silver covering is filled with impurities done by oxidation of the metal.  It turns dark and not pleasing to the eye, as well as does not make a good earthenware because of its appearance. 

• King Solomon is now comparing a person who has charismatic effects upon people who are able to speak with power and persuasion.  Their hearts, however, are like that earthenware having an impure silver dross covering, meaning their heart is wicked, always having a personal agenda which simply benefits the charismatic person.  

²⁴ He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself;  ²⁵ When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
²⁶ Though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

We are still speaking of the charismatic person who has his own agenda when speaking out to others, disguising himself to be for the people.  His speech is charismatic, purposing to draw people, King Solomon is telling us to not believe him, for his heart is filled with abominations. 

• Seven meaning fullness, and in this circumstance, King Solomon is telling us that this kind of person's heart is so filled with hatred and deceit to where there is no room for any righteousness.

God does not want us to be deceived by those who have their own secret agenda.  That is where, as a believer of Jesus, having the indwelling Holy Spirit, must rely on the voice of God within.  When God reveals a deceptive person, we know to not trust him.  

• In time, as the deceiver continues to expose himself to others, he will be exposed by others as well.

²⁷ Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.  

God has created with man the sowing and reaping process.  In other words, we do reap what we sow - whether it be to good or to bad.  If a person sows bad seed, those bad seeds will come back to him.  This then becomes a pit where the reaper is putting himself in.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Lying is an act of hatred for others.  Having no sympathy for others, the liar will pretend to care for its victim, but in turn, they are destroying those whom they deceives.

• So then, how do we as Christians apply this to our lives?  First of all, we must follow the voice of the Holy Spirit within, because the Holy Spirit will let us know when someone is lying to us. 

• • I am thinking of a situation that happened years ago when I was told something by someone whom I thought was a Christian friend.  She said someone said something against me that made absolutely no sense to me.     
  • I prayed about it and felt the Holy Spirit telling me not to confront it at that point, but be on guard regarding her words to me in the future. 
  • Two more times, over the next several months, she again said something to me regarding certain people were going against me behind my back.  Eventually, it became evident that her basis of truth was a definite lie.  
  • Sadly, our relationship ended. First of all, confrontation proved fruitless, and secondly we no longer travel in the same circle.   
  • I have yet to discover her reasoning for lying, but I have also chose to let it go because the experiences she told me has nothing to do with my present and my future, and she and those those she associates with are not part of my circle.
  • I did, however, have to work through the process of forgiveness toward her, and now I have nothing but compassion for her - for she has no idea what she is doing to others as well as to herself. 

All this to say is people do lie.  Christian and non-Christian alike.  We live in a sinful world where people sin all around us.  That, however, has nothing to do with us.  Our responsibility is to be faithful to Jesus and to ourselves because He is the one to whom we are accountable to. 

• Our relationship with the Lord must be the most important thing in our life.   It is a journey of following after His ways while we maintain peace and joy within.
• Remember, God has called each one of us with a plan and purpose on this earth.  It doesn't involve us getting into the petyness of other people's sins.  

So there we have it for chapter 26 of Proverbs.  See you tomorrow.

God bless!

Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com