Busybodies, Instigators, Slanderers, Haters, and Liars

Proverbs 26:17-28

17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own
Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, "I was only joking!"

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,
And they go down into the inmost body.
23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart
Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips,
And lays up deceit within himself;
25 When he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart;
26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Here are abominations of the heart which understanding and wise listeners will hear and heed to avoid.  There are busybodies who cannot pass past a conversation without entrenching their opinions and bad advice into only to stir up arguments.  The picture here is as a man who grabs a dog by the ears which leads to an angry animal with aggression to swiftly follow.  So does the one who sticks her or his nose into other’s business (2 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Timothy 5:13) and stirs things up like making a dog snap and bark.  The instigators deceive others and cause great contention and worrying anger, then pretend it was all just a joke for the fun of seeing them get wound up and angry.  Take away the fuel of opportunity for these instigators and the contention ceases.  Slanderers also generate great strife among people as they say false and hurtful things as if a game in order to satisfy others who play along in defaming others to see the wickedness they can create in the hearts of people.  They love the taste of wickedness and hold it in common vessels of God’s wrath disguised as valuable containers but holding malevolence.  Their fuel must be taken away from them by not going along with the evil disguised as fun that others are not drawn into such unloving and destructive behavior either.  Haters cover their words and actions as well like actors covered in makeup of deceptive words to mislead from their true actions and intent.  As Solomon warns us, do not believe these people!  They only deceive themselves and we do not want ourselves or others to be drawn into their deceit leading to the contagion of hated spreading from a darkened soul to those drawn into the lies.  Yes, the concealed hate of darkened hearts needs to be exposed (Ephesians 5:11-13) by truth in wisdom and understanding in our knowledge of what is behind these acts.  Liars will be found out or exposed (Luke 8:17) and buried in their own deceit eventually.  They dig themselves into a pit and their mounting lies will bury them and their wagging tongues will be crushed in their false flattery in the end.  Judgment and justice will prevail at last on the world at the return of Christ, and all hearts will be exposed in truth to stop the ruin of flattering words of deceit forever.  He who has wise ears to hear, let him hear and heed the warnings against busybodies, instigators, slanderers, haters, and liars.  May we recognize any elements of these in ourselves and do the opposite according to His word instead.  Amen.