The Words of a Talebearer - Proverbs 26:22

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “As coals are to burning coals, and wood to a fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse twenty-two of Proverbs Solomon shared about, “the words of a talebearer” where we read,

The words of a talebearer are as wounds,

as they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 

The verse begins, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, ...” Solomon began with the words, “the words” or “the speeches, utterances, declarations and proclamations” “of a talebearer” which means “belonging to a murmurer, whisperer, slanderer and backbiter” “are as wounds” or “exist similar and in likeness to swallowed greedy and dainty morsels”. Solomon said the utterances and declarations belonging to a murmurer and backbiter exist like dainty morsels when they are received.

The verse goes on to say, “... as they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” Solomon continued with the words, “as they go down” or “at the time they, the words of a talebearer, descend, decline and sink down” “into the innermost parts” which means “into the chamber or inward part” “of the belly” or “belonging to the seat of hunger or abdomen”. Solomon said “the words of a talebearer are as wounds” at the time they descend into the inward part of the abdomen. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Solomon how slanderous declarations and gossip from a person who is a backbiter are similar to dainty morsels that enter into the inner part of the body, however, the end of those “words” is damaging. God wants us to avoid being slanderous and backbiting, and He helps us when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. As we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us from being a “talebearer” and protect us from the “dainty morsels” that gossipers desire to share. 

Next time Solomon shares about, “burning lips and a wicked heart”, 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".