April 5th, 2006
Did you know this morning the time hit 01:02.03 04/05/06? This won’t happen again for another 100 years… and I slept right through. Oh well. A friend said to my wife, “Don’t tell me you believe your husband’s story that he spent the day fishing. Why, he didn’t come home with a single fish!” My wife then said “And that’s why I believe him.” I’ve been fishing several times in my life and I haven’t caught but just a cold. I’m willing to bet that many parents are trying to induce labor today to have the birthday 4/5/06. Oh me, oh my, oh me.
The Tongue – Edition #6: Words of a Mocker, Words of a Fool
Proverbs 22:9-12
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
Mock (verb):
- To treat with ridicule or contempt; deride.
- To frustrate the hopes of; disappoint.
- To express scorn or ridicule; jeer.
Deride (verb):
- To speak of or treat with contemptuous mirth.
Mirth (noun):
- Gladness and gaiety, especially when expressed by laughter.
I haven’t done this in a while… but I really needed to see the full definitions to get a true idea of what is being said. Drive out someone who treats others with contempt and laughs while doing so, and out goes conflict. Keep those around you who have a pure heart and whose speech is gracious.
Proverbs 14:5-10
A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright. Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
Fool (noun):
- A person who lacks good judgment.
- A person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of.
I notice that one who mocks and fools are one and the same according to the bible. If I were to shout and scream at the top of my lungs at why people are doing things wrong, ridiculing them for there actions, then I would not only be mocking them, I would then become a fool. This not only opens my eyes, but it cuts my heart. It shows me just how much conflict/resolution should not be about the raising of the voice and foaming of the mouth.
Psalm 4:4
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Ephesians 4:26-27
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Anger is a feeling, rage is a choice. Anger is simply a feeling of displeasure and hostility. And when it isn’t controlled, it leads to sin. The sin comes out either by words and expressions such as kicking a cement wall, punching a wall, and throwing of objects. It can also come out in ways of cursing, yelling, and saying things that really shouldn’t be said in a forum. And when these things occur (and I’ve done all these things in my past), it is not of sound judgment, and I was a fool by definition. I was a mocker by definition. God grants repentance. And being that repentance is change, and God grants change of the heart, I pray that this study is God granting me that repentance. Anyway, the Ranger game is on tonight, on cable no less (and I don’t have cable), so no score updates as I study. Alas, Johnny Out.
Posts
