With No Talebearer Strife Ceases - Proverbs 26:20

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that deceives his neighbor, and says, am I not in sport?”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse twenty of Proverbs Solomon said, “where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases” where we read,

Where no wood is, there the fire goes out:

so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.

The verse begins, “Where no wood is, there the fire goes out:” Solomon began with the words, “where no wood is” or “in the place or location that there exists not any timber, stalk, plank, trees or firewood”, “there the fire goes out” which means “in that place and location the burning fiery flame is quenched and extinguished”. Solomon said in the place that there exists not any timber or firewood the fiery flame is extinguished. 

The verse goes on to say, “so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.” Solomon continued with the words, “so where there is no talebearer” or “even, also and indeed in the place or location that there exists not any murmuring, whispering, slander or backbiting”, “the strife ceases” which means “the contention, quarreling and brawling subsides and becomes quiet and silent”. Solomon said in the place that not any whispering and backbiting exists, the contention and quarreling subsides.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon the value of not having people who murmur and backbite around. As certain as a “fire” is extinguished whenever there is no wood or fuel to keep it going, as son as a person who whispers behind the backs of others is removed, contention is silenced as well. God wants us to align with His ways, and He gave us His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins so He can forgive us and grant us everlasting life. God loves us, and when we surrender to Him, He will teach us the value of not being a “talebearer” and the quiet and peace that appears when they leave. 

Next time Solomon shares about, “a contentious man to kindle strife”, 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".