Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

The way of fools seems right to them,
    but the wise listen to advice.
Fools show their annoyance at once,
    but the prudent overlook an insult.
An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.
The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.
No harm overtakes the righteous,
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

• Proverbs 12: 15-21

“Proverbs 12:18 speaks … piercings. ”The contrast here is between cutting words that are ‘blurted out’ (Ps. 106:33) and thoughtful words that bring health. Cf. Ephesians 4:29, 30.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

The first proverb in this set is very telling when you dig deeper than the surface meaning.  The wise seek advice for they realize that they might have tunnel vision, only have one view of the subject, or they are humble enough to know others may have a better understanding of the topic.  But fools do not listen to advice when advice is offered.  They think they know everything, so why listen to anyone else?

Too many bar fights or break-ups within a family have happened over an insult that may have not been an insult at all.  My wife would call me names in a foreign language.  When I asked what the word meant, she refused to tell me, and she would laugh.  What were those words?  I will never know, but even when it is the same language, one person’s word of endearment might not be what the other person thought.  If we let the perceived insult slide by, peace is maintained, and the incident soon forgotten.

The third proverb in this set seems to be definitional, but someone who lies, will lie about anything.  The person who tells the truth may think of a lie, but the lie is only uttered if for the protection of a friend.  In other words, you can depend on what they say, for good or bad reasons.

And this next one is sort of the theme for these proverbs, with words said in haste before thinking about it, lies vs. the truth, and then words that hurt the other person.  Truth versus lies is said in different words in the next proverb, with deceit leading to evil in the next.  But the truthful has peace with joy.

This set of proverbs ends with a promise that the righteous will not be overtaken, but the wicked have plenty of trouble.

At times, you feel that there is far too much trouble.  You might even feel overtaken, but when you are breathing there is the hope of better days.  And regardless of what happens in this world, we will have much better days in Heaven.  Wickedness has no hold on us there, thus we will in the end never be overtaken.

And now let us sing.

The following song is God, Help Me.  It is sung by Unspoken.  I had seriously considered this song a couple of times before, but it did not match the topic as well as others did.  But it says nothing about our words being prudent and well thought out.  Yet it talks volumes to that person who is righteous, and things are not working out.  They might feel overtaken, but they are not.  They may just need to cry out, “God, Help me!”

“When I’m at my end
Tears pouring down
And I can’t see past
What’s in front of me now

When it’s all too much
For this heart to take
There’s one name I call
One prayer that I pray

God, help me now
Feels like there’s no way out
But Jesus, You’re faithful and able
And You’ve never once let me down
God, help me now

No matter the pain
My heart may feel
No wound cuts too deep
For Your love to heal

So when fear comes to find me
And doubt starts to grow
I lift up my eyes
I know just where to go

God, help me now
Feels like there’s no way out
But Jesus, You’re faithful and able
And You’ve never once let me down
God, help me now (oh)

No one else (no one else)
No one else (no one else)
Has the power that’s in Your name
Nowhere else (nowhere else)
Nowhere else (nowhere else)
Can I run to, and be saved

God, help me now
Feels like there’s no way out
But Jesus, You’re faithful and able
You’ve never once let me down (ooh)
God, help me now
God, help me now”

• Jeffrey Thomas Pardo, Jonathan Burton Lowry, Chad Michael Mattson, God Help Me

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  Lord, so many times, I have opened my mouth and inserted my foot.  A few of those times, I have instant recognition of what I just said, but on other occasions, someone is hurt, and they walk away, not knowing that I did not mean it the way it came out of my mouth.  With greater wisdom, I could do better.  But sometimes, when someone else is doing what I just confessed, I find it hard to interrupt so that the subject matter can be changed while the first speaker takes stock in what was said.  Lord, sometimes we need to be slow in speech and other times we need to be quick before someone else’s ill-chosen words ruin a friendship.  It is not easy, but with Your help, we can have moments of peace in this troubled world.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.