Today’s Blog: Stopping the Madness
TODAY’S PROVERB: If you have acted foolishly, exalting yourself, or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth. Proverbs 30:32, TLV
Did you blink past today’s proverb? I sure did. For years. I treated this verse as merely the preface to verse 33: “For as churning milk produces butter, and twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.” But, really it is worth reviewing on its own merits.
Our proverb today fits into what I call “the cause and effect theme.” In other words: If you do this, then something will happen as a result. Action and reaction.
Causality . . .
Causality is what connects one process to another. Whole academic disciplines can find their basis in cause and effect, physics especially.
Honestly, I believe it’s simply how GOD logically set up the universe. So, of course it shows up in Proverbs, as well as all of Scriptures.
Stay with me . . .
However, what’s different about verse 32 is that the cause produced both an effect and another cause. In fact, the verse doesn’t indicate what the ultimate reaction/effect will be.
What do I mean by this? The act of foolish behavior, pride, or just the intent of “planning evil” will produce a negative reaction within us. Imagine how we would react to someone doing the same to us.
Here’s where verse 32 is wonderfully different. It’s the placing our hand over our mouth. Placing our hand over our mouth stops us from going too far — saying the things that can’t be taken back. Stopping our involvement in foolish or hurtful behavior.
It’s an intentional action to keep us from continuing the foolishness. Like closing the door to an unwanted intruder.
It works . . .
What would cause us to cease the behavior? I’ve had occasions where my tone of voice and/or words wake me up. I hear what and how I’m saying something and realize, “Oh. My. Goodness. Did I just say that?”
Sometimes, the person I’m speaking to reacts and I see what my words or behavior have done. How ever the awareness happens, I believe it is the Holy Spirit convicting me and I have had a visceral, physical response.
I like this. Because, it makes sense. And it gives some insights into how to live the Bible.
Listen, we’re all on the wisdom and faith journey — we haven’t arrived. As much as we want to be perfect in our walk, well, we’re flawed. When we say something offensive or hurtful or prideful or distasteful or disruptive, and the Holy Spirit zaps our heart, what if we put our hand over our mouth? Or bit our tongue or lip?
For sure it will stop us from saying more, but it also gives us the opportunity repent on the spot.
Also, it draws attention to our inappropriate or sinful action. Drawing attention to our sin by our own conduct will cause a response from those around us. Which will make us feel uncomfortable. But, it might be a powerful thing. It could train us to not do it again — which is a good thing.
May we “put our hand over our mouth” as soon as possible, my friends.
Proverbs 30:32 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
