The Hate of a Lying Tongue - Proverbs 26:28

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “Whosoever digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse twenty-eight of Proverbs Solomon said, “a lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it” where we read,

A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; 

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

The verse begins, “A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it;” Solomon began with the words, “a lying tongue” or “a wrong, deceptive, disappointing and false wedge in the mouth used for tasting and speaking” “hates those that are afflicted by it” which means “is odious and as an enemy and foe to the people who exists as crushed, injured and oppressed through the means of the lying tongue”. Solomon said the person who speaks with a fraudulent “tongue”despises, crushes and injures the people to whom they speak.

The verse goes on to say, “and a flattering mouth works ruin.” Solomon continues with the words, “and a flattering mouth” or “and smooth speaking orifice in the face used for eating, drinking and speaking” “works ruin” which means “fashions, makes and produces stumbling and overthrow”. Solomon said the smooth speaking “mouth” produces an occasion for stumbling. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how damaging our speech can be to others. James wrote, “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” (See James 3:6) He also wrote, “the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (See James 3:8). In other words, we need a power greater than our own for our tongues not to do damage to others. God loves us, and He proved His love by sending His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind – including the sins of our tongues. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us not only a desire to avoid a “lying tongue” and “flattering mouth”, but also to keep us from having them ourselves. 

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Solomon say, “boast not yourself of tomorrow”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".