Last week we started to look at Proverbs 26:2 and the
relationship between this passage and hurtful words without cause:
relationship between this passage and hurtful words without cause:
Like
a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow to its flying, so a curse without
cause does not come to nest (Proverbs 26:2).
a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow to its flying, so a curse without
cause does not come to nest (Proverbs 26:2).
This passage actually gives us a terrific word picture. One meant to illustrate how we should respond
when we’re on the “other side” of wounding words. Words, which we can’t seem to un-do the
damage of, because we keep re-living them.
Words that were meant to cut deeply – and did! Words, that after evaluation, didn’t hold any
merit, were nothing more than empty, wasted air, except that their arrow struck
deep into our hearts and minds. They
absolutely hit the mark.
when we’re on the “other side” of wounding words. Words, which we can’t seem to un-do the
damage of, because we keep re-living them.
Words that were meant to cut deeply – and did! Words, that after evaluation, didn’t hold any
merit, were nothing more than empty, wasted air, except that their arrow struck
deep into our hearts and minds. They
absolutely hit the mark.
Here’s the illustration.
The passage wants us to picture a small bird looking for a place to
nest. However, for one reason or
another, the bird can’t find a resting place.
Instead of settling in on the branch of some tree, it can’t stop
flitting from place to place.
The passage wants us to picture a small bird looking for a place to
nest. However, for one reason or
another, the bird can’t find a resting place.
Instead of settling in on the branch of some tree, it can’t stop
flitting from place to place.
Words without cause need to be treated just like those
birds. Instead of offering them a branch
on the tree of our heart, shoo them away; and, for heaven’s sake, don’t build
them a bird house and put out seed each morning (instead, you might consider
putting up a scare crow…). In other
words, don’t keep mentally going back over the conversation. Quit picking at the scab and opening the
wound. What a waste of good energy that
could be used for Kingdom work. That’s
why the enemy keeps shooting those words on fiery darts into the battlefield of
your mind. He knows how distracting
dwelling on our own hurts can be! The
sage of Proverbs is trying to give us a soothing salve of healing help – wisdom
for wise living. In contrast, continuing
to live in the pain of past conversations is considered foolishness. Oh, how I don’t want to be foolish!
birds. Instead of offering them a branch
on the tree of our heart, shoo them away; and, for heaven’s sake, don’t build
them a bird house and put out seed each morning (instead, you might consider
putting up a scare crow…). In other
words, don’t keep mentally going back over the conversation. Quit picking at the scab and opening the
wound. What a waste of good energy that
could be used for Kingdom work. That’s
why the enemy keeps shooting those words on fiery darts into the battlefield of
your mind. He knows how distracting
dwelling on our own hurts can be! The
sage of Proverbs is trying to give us a soothing salve of healing help – wisdom
for wise living. In contrast, continuing
to live in the pain of past conversations is considered foolishness. Oh, how I don’t want to be foolish!
In case that word picture isn’t enough, Solomon gives us
another one a little further down in the chapter: As a dog
returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. (Proverbs 26:11). Seriously, does that not gross you out? Well, so should returning over and over again
to the words without cause that we let disturb us – over and over and over
again. When we do; we are that dog! Ick!
another one a little further down in the chapter: As a dog
returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. (Proverbs 26:11). Seriously, does that not gross you out? Well, so should returning over and over again
to the words without cause that we let disturb us – over and over and over
again. When we do; we are that dog! Ick!
I’m a visual person.
So, this morning in my journal, I jotted down some words I’ve recently heard
spoken in reference to me. I sat with
them for a bit. What I needed to
confess, I’ve confessed and given back to Jesus to cleanse. I’ve sincerely written a thank you note to
the person who helped me see correcting truth.
However, there are other words, which have gotten back to me, that
really don’t hold water. On those words,
I drew wings, and I’ve sent them on their way.
So, this morning in my journal, I jotted down some words I’ve recently heard
spoken in reference to me. I sat with
them for a bit. What I needed to
confess, I’ve confessed and given back to Jesus to cleanse. I’ve sincerely written a thank you note to
the person who helped me see correcting truth.
However, there are other words, which have gotten back to me, that
really don’t hold water. On those words,
I drew wings, and I’ve sent them on their way.
So, if you’re in that same place, I encourage you, some
words you gotta just “let fly away…”
Now, back to Kingdom work!
words you gotta just “let fly away…”
Now, back to Kingdom work!