The Tongue - Edition #12: Idle Chatter

April 13th, 2006

The Tongue – Edition #12: Idle Chatter

Proverbs 11:1-13
The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing. The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead. With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape. When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Gossip (noun):

• A report (often malicious) about the behavior of other people.


• (Verb): Wag one's tongue; speak about others and reveal secrets or intimacies.

I found that the word gossip has only been around since 1014 (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Gossip), so that encouraged me to check out E-Sword and see what the true meaning is. The word that stuck out to me was rakiyl (pronounced raw-keel). You can actually substitute scandal monger in place of gossip. That would mean that a gossip and a scandal monger are one in the same. You can also substitute a slanderer in that place, as well. The word gossip gets glossed over, “oh, I’m just gossiping, no harm done.” But we wouldn’t ever say, “Oh, I’m just a slanderer” or “I’m such a scandal monger. What can you do?” Now, I don’t necessarily mind my bathroom scale being dishonest, I prefer it to say a lighter weight, as I’m sure most people do. The only way that I can be a man of understanding is to hold my tongue. And the only way I cannot be a gossip, scandal monger, or slanderer is to hold my tongue. Other passages really bring it home.

Proverbs 16:27-28
A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 18:1-8
An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment. A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice. A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Proverbs 20:19
A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

Proverbs 26:17-22
Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own. Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

A slanderer betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. The words of a scandal monger are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. Without wood a fire goes out; without idle chatter a quarrel dies down. If I don’t dwell on an issue, it will go away. If I constantly talk about it, it will never go away. A perverse man stirs up dissension, and one who speaks about others and reveals their secrets and intimacies separates close friends. I spoke with a friend last night and he was telling me about Saint Patrick. He was up for bishop and he had a discipling partner that he confessed his sins to on a regular basis. He had to minister to others but also had an appointment to speak about the bishop role. His friend said he would speak to them on his behalf. He trusted his friend and they decided to go ahead and let him go minister while his friend spoke for him. His friend spoke for him and told them all his dirt. He slandered Saint Patrick. And then the gossip spread all throughout the area. We like to hear the gossip. We watch the news. We listen to people talk about other people. We turn on the radio and listen to it there. We go to work and talk about so-and-so’s performance and how there sales numbers are sliding and we beat them down. “Bob is out sick AGAIN?! Man, he is just a sluggard. If he wouldn’t go out partying all night…” and so it begins. This is definitely an area where I am guilty. I don’t know what that guy did to Saint Patrick, and it is a shame he did it, but I am no better than that guy. And it is when I start thinking that I am, that I really get messed up. Everyone have a good Thursday, for tomorrow is Good Friday.