Beware Smooth Lips From an Evil Heart

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Sunday - 9:15 AM Sunday School, 10:30 AM Worship Service

by: Denise Robinson

04/19/2021

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Today we end the "proverb poem" we began last week. The poem has warned us about fools, those who are lazy, and those who "whisper" with the intent to stir up quarrels. We end with those who tell lies that come from an "evil heart" or from one who hates others:


Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart. An enemy dissembles in speaking while harboring deceit within; when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it, for there are seven abominations concealed within; though hatred is covered with guile, the enemy’s wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.  (Prov. 26:23-28)

It is said that we are born with the ability to lie within our human psyche. In these verses, the focus is not so much on the person telling lies as it is on the person hearing them - the wise need the insight to see through the outward facade to what is really going inside a person so that they are not fooled. The metaphor used at the beginning is of glaze that covers an earthen vessel; the glaze covers cracks and imperfections from plain sight. It also would give the jar or bowl the appearance of bearing made of silver and thereby make it seem more valuable than it really was. Everything about it is a lie. So it is with lies told by enemies or out of hatred; they are poison with "seven abominations" within (the term "seven" here meaning they are completely or totally abominable).

Meditation: The last two verses imply that the wicked will eventually suffer the consequences of their wickedness, although it is not clear how or when that will happen. As our nation, at least politically, becomes more divided and angry, it is easy to get caught up in the words that are "hurled" by one party against another. It is easy to fall into the trap of "us" and "them." I can't control what happens in Washington, D.C. or even at the Statehouse downtown. But I can control how I treat others with whom I come into contact daily. Some days I do better than on other days; I just pray that there is more of Christ in me and less of me in me.
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Today we end the "proverb poem" we began last week. The poem has warned us about fools, those who are lazy, and those who "whisper" with the intent to stir up quarrels. We end with those who tell lies that come from an "evil heart" or from one who hates others:


Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart. An enemy dissembles in speaking while harboring deceit within; when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it, for there are seven abominations concealed within; though hatred is covered with guile, the enemy’s wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.  (Prov. 26:23-28)

It is said that we are born with the ability to lie within our human psyche. In these verses, the focus is not so much on the person telling lies as it is on the person hearing them - the wise need the insight to see through the outward facade to what is really going inside a person so that they are not fooled. The metaphor used at the beginning is of glaze that covers an earthen vessel; the glaze covers cracks and imperfections from plain sight. It also would give the jar or bowl the appearance of bearing made of silver and thereby make it seem more valuable than it really was. Everything about it is a lie. So it is with lies told by enemies or out of hatred; they are poison with "seven abominations" within (the term "seven" here meaning they are completely or totally abominable).

Meditation: The last two verses imply that the wicked will eventually suffer the consequences of their wickedness, although it is not clear how or when that will happen. As our nation, at least politically, becomes more divided and angry, it is easy to get caught up in the words that are "hurled" by one party against another. It is easy to fall into the trap of "us" and "them." I can't control what happens in Washington, D.C. or even at the Statehouse downtown. But I can control how I treat others with whom I come into contact daily. Some days I do better than on other days; I just pray that there is more of Christ in me and less of me in me.
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