Journal Proverbs 26 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “For lack of wood the fire goes out and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels—they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Excerpts from Prov 26:20-22, and v12
Observation: More about talking out of turn. Proverbs is good for that and pounding, pounding, pounding the subject matter home. Maybe because the things that Proverbs says are needed in so many ways?
Analysis: I remember James talks about the tongue being a roaring flame, a fire that sets forests ablaze.
Sounds familiar here.
A fire needs fuel, oxygen, and an igniter to start. So does contention. So does gossip. So does a quarrel. Take any of the three pieces out and fire does not start.
Where and how does this start? Perhaps because I think that I am wiser than others—therefore my perception of an issue must dominate understanding? Could be—been there, done that before.
Reviewing, “whisperer” could mean a desire to stir up stuff. It could mean being a gossip. Whatever it is, I note from my own experience it is “delicious.” It can bring fire and excitement into blandness—gets the juices flowing. According to the Word, it is the vocal equivalent of being “foolish.”
I am going through a time in my life where I am very quiet. Speak when spoken to, generally. I try to avoid rants and complaints. I am not always successful on that.
I can get to speaking expansively about the Scriptures, Doctrine, applications and the like. My wife is my main audience. I am getting pretty good about noticing when to stop—it is when her eyes are rolling back into her head.
So, between “whispering/gossip”, vocal quarreling and the Scriptures—which is the most exciting? Which one brings the fire? It brings strife as well. It is number 1 in this list. But why?
The peaceable Word of Truth. Why is this less exciting than whispers, gossip, sports, news, opinions, etc.? I wonder…
Prayer: Lord, I don’t know why Your Word isn’t the most exciting thing going. I wish I did. There was a time where wanting to be “a doorkeeper in your house” was the epitome of ambition. (Ps 84:10) Now, it seems I slog through the mud of the day just to keep going forward. Open my eyes, O Lord. Let me see Your beauty once again. AMEN.