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.

Proverbs 25-29

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. Proverbs 26:20-22

I continue my study of Proverbs week 9 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 25-29.  My focus for today is questions 9-12 from my workbook, which covers (1) the destructive effects of a sinful tongue, particularly gossip and lying (Proverbs 26:20,22, 24, 28, 18:8); (2) how boasting is folly (Proverbs 27:1-2, James 4:13-14); (3) how believers should flee from danger, particularly sexual immorality and idolatry (Proverbs 27:12, 22:3, 1 Corinthians 6:12-18, 10:1-14); and (4) how love of money leads to idolatry and takes one away from God towards destruction (Proverbs Proverbs 28:19-27, 1 Timothy 6:6-10).  For today, as we get closer to elections here in our country, I reflect on how gossip and lies tear communities apart - we definitely need more of Jesus!  I vote not for the donkey or elephant, but for the lamb! Believers should actually take this to heart because of more believers actually acted more like Jesus (including myself), we would definitely see God's kingdom grow and we would experience more love and unity.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and You are love - You are slow to anger and abounding in love - this is despite my sin.  You love me and saved me while I was still sinning and an enemy/hostile to You...thank You Jesus!  What grace!  I am not deserving of such grace and love...nor my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please provide wisdom and energy to Lisa and myself.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Ecclesiastes - Various 

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

Day 149 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of Ecclesiastes; much like my study of the Psalms and Proverbs, my commentary presents the chapters of Ecclesiastes according to topic areas and this morning my focus is on the value of wisdom (wisdom comes from sorrow, danger of extremism, few choose wisdom, and enriching nature of wisdom).

Highlights from my reading this morning:

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20

Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you—for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others. Ecclesiastes 7:21-22

Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say. Ecclesiastes 10:20

It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:5

Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise—why destroy yourself? Ecclesiastes 7:16

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me by transforming my heart, mind and life.  Thank You Jesus for helping me see and heed the wisdom from Your Word.  I know there is much work to do but I am grateful for what You have done so far.  Please forgive me Jesus for my sin - I am easily distracted by the world and by own comfort.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.

Numbers 12-14

    Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah. Numbers 14:44-45

Day 38 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on gossip between leaders, and grumbling and complaining of the Israelites who feel powerless to overtake those who live in the Promised Land.  God burns in anger against those who gossip and against those who grumble and complain. 

Moses marries a Cushite woman and although the exact reason why is not stated, Miriam disapproves and slanders Moses (albeit indirectly) behind his back to Aaron (Numbers 12:1-2).  God is not pleased and He punishes her with a skin disease.  God is also angry with the spies He sends out to examine the Promised Land they are about to enter.  Nearly all of the spies return indicating that although the land is good they feel powerless to overcome those who inhabit the land.  Only Caleb and Joshua believe in God and trust that He will help them overtake those in the land. God punishes the Israelites for their failure to believe in Him - He forces the Israelites to wander in the desert for another 40 years.

If we truly believe in God, we must have confidence in Him to accomplish His will.  When God makes a promise, He is faithful and nothing can stop His plan.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You are faithful.  I have seen Your faithfulness in my life time and time again - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and faithfulness.  I sin...every single day.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it.

James 4

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. v11

With James being referred to as the "bossiest book of the Bible", it is not surprising that James packs his letter with many commands charging us with "do's" and "don'ts".  Here, we have James charging us to avoid slandering others.  Of course, we are to love and forgive others as God loves and forgives us, so this clearly includes judging and slandering others.

James is not the only one to charge us with avoiding judgement, slander, and gossip - check here for other books with a similar message.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and forgives me - and there is no one else who can do what You do for me - You alone are God and I am grateful for what You have done and continue to do for me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  I slander and I gossip - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

Proverbs 11

Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. v12

God has helped me restrain myself when tempted to talk about others.  Yet I know I am guilty of this sin when I refer to nameless individuals that I read about in the news or on TV.  It's easy to to deride others when You are from afar.  Clearly I need God to help me be more pure in this area.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I sin - I deride others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Genesis 37

What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. v10-11

Joseph is a "young man of seventeen" (v2) but I suspect during biblical times, this was certainly old enough for him to be expected to act like a man and not act like he did here.  He certainly had the gift of interpreting dreams, but this was not cause for him to stir up trouble with his brothers.  God wants us to use our gifts - not to throw them into others' faces.  Joseph probably should not have given Jacob a bad report about them (v2) - there is no evidence Jacob asked for this report.  

God despises arrogance and He also despises gossip.

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3

 

See also post here.

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 2 Corinthians 12:20

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - You have blessed me well beyond what I deserve.  Thank You.  You give me many second chances - despite my sin, which continues.  Please forgive me for my laziness and selfishness.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You and love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.

Psalm 7

Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. v6

David implies (correctly) in this Psalm that God is the only one appropriate to judge - see here.  We must be careful of trying to mete out our own brand of justice - see also post here.  As part of this God, also says we should not gossip.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 2 Corinthians 12:20

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the only one worthy to be Judge.  And You are just...all discipline that you pour out on me is for my good and Your glory.  No sin is unnoticed in Your eyes. I can rest secure in Your righteousness.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet often I don't.  I see sin and I want my own brand of justice - please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects of chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.