Where There is no Whisper, Quarreling Ceases

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

by: Denise Robinson

04/16/2021

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First, our "proverb poem" spoke about fools, then about those who are lazy. In our next section, Solomon focuses on those who like to quarrel. The poem's imagery also continues in today's verses:


Like somebody who takes a passing dog by the ears is one who meddles in the quarrel of another. Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows, so is one who deceives a neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart.  (Prov. 26:17-23)

The words of a "whisperer" are easy to believe, they sound convincing. But their intent is to provoke a quarrel and the result is the same as adding embers and wood to a fire. How is such a person defeated? Don't sink to their level, don't get involved in the dispute, don't listen to their whispers.

Meditation: We all know people who seem to live for "stirring the pot." Of course we also know, at some level, that just as they are talking about others to us, they are also talking about us to others. Solomon reminds us to not give such people a voice. Rather, we should be using our voice to lift others up, to encourage and support. Is this something you need to work on in your own life? Do you need to stop or change your social media posts or how you talk to others? Or, maybe, it's not a matter of your speech - perhaps you need to stop listening to the "poison" words of others.
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First, our "proverb poem" spoke about fools, then about those who are lazy. In our next section, Solomon focuses on those who like to quarrel. The poem's imagery also continues in today's verses:


Like somebody who takes a passing dog by the ears is one who meddles in the quarrel of another. Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows, so is one who deceives a neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart.  (Prov. 26:17-23)

The words of a "whisperer" are easy to believe, they sound convincing. But their intent is to provoke a quarrel and the result is the same as adding embers and wood to a fire. How is such a person defeated? Don't sink to their level, don't get involved in the dispute, don't listen to their whispers.

Meditation: We all know people who seem to live for "stirring the pot." Of course we also know, at some level, that just as they are talking about others to us, they are also talking about us to others. Solomon reminds us to not give such people a voice. Rather, we should be using our voice to lift others up, to encourage and support. Is this something you need to work on in your own life? Do you need to stop or change your social media posts or how you talk to others? Or, maybe, it's not a matter of your speech - perhaps you need to stop listening to the "poison" words of others.
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