Ever deal with people who are spiteful? Such mischief
makers are malicious, mean and nasty. The last five verses of proverbs 26 deal
with such people. They are identified as spiteful and malicious people. In
these verses we get to see a series of misconducts and mischiefs such people create.
One thing is their
deceitful words. Verse 22 tells us that their words are dressed up beautifully,
camouflaging their ulterior motive. The slanders they promulgate are with words
that are soothing and crafted to mislead the hearer. The description is that
their words are like “dainty morsels” because they are spoken with charm. And
these words are well crafted and delivered so that they will penetrate into the
innermost part of the hearers. This implies that the gossips are designed that
they will be taken in wholesale, digested and believed. Verse 23
further tells us that those words are also fraudulent. They are spoken like
words to a friend but are issued from a wicked heart. So comfortable will those
words be, that hearers will be lured into a false sense of security. The
wickedness of their heart is camouflaged like an earthen vessel overlaid with
low grade silver to give the appearance of value. Remember the English proverbs
that tells us that “All that glitters is not gold.” The outer veneer can
be designed to camouflage the wickedness within. These verses constitute an appeal to us to be
smart and learn to listen to the real intent of a person’s heart.
Verses 24-25 provide us with reasons why we should try
to listen to their hearts. For that’s where we can identify their real purpose.
If we listen to the heart, we will be able to identify their insincerity which
lies underneath the veneer of their superficial and smooth speech. The
malicious or hateful people always hide their hatred with charming speeches that
flow from a toxic source – the heart. In verse 25 we are told that the heart of
such people is filled with seven abominations. This is to say that they are so
utterly filled with wickedness. Thankfully, verse 26 reveals that no matter how
well the mischief makers may disguise and try to conceal their wickedness, it
will ultimately be openly exposed. As
far as our righteous God is concerned, no wickedness will be able to be
prolonged to hurt the righteous. Verse 27 warns that digging a hole to plot
someone’s fall may boomerang. And the schemer may just fall into the trap of
his own making. Finally, verse 28 ends Proverbs 26 by telling us that all
deceitful speeches are intended to bring about someone’s else’s ruin and
destruction. It is a sure indication of
hatred. It will do us well not to give in to flattery. Don’t be hook-winked by
smooth words. Always verify what we have heard so that we will not fall prey to
the scheme of wickedness. Be alert and watchful when someone praise you more than
you know you deserve.
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