Pro 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Pro 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
We have often warned of the dire situation Canada is in. We have an anti-semite government. We have a dictator for a “leader”. The media is propping him up. This week he went to Turkey to work out a deal for closer ties with a strong Muslim country.
We already have an invasion of Islam in this country. Our major cities have factions of that ideology and too many ignorant bystanders who refuse to see the danger of that system. Islam is more than a religion. It is like Catholicism. It has the goal of taking over the world. That has been the goal of Catholicism over the centuries. It takes different approaches at different times. Ultimately God has not allowed Catholicism to fulfil its plans.
Islam may be a more violent ideology. Catholicism has gone through some very violent stages as well.
Those who are truly saved should not live in fear of Catholicism or of Islam. We do need to be aware of their plans and we need to be bold in our witness for the Truth.
Recently we heard of a young couple who wants to reach out to Muslims. They are trying to get into a Muslim controlled country through the back door. He is trying to get in as an English teacher. He is deeply compromised and the last we heard his wife will be dressing like a Muslim woman in order to get into the country they are pursuing.
We cannot help the lost if we bow to their ungodly ways. We need to honour the God Who provided salvation for us. We need to help the lost to see they can be set free from bondage. Muslim women are treated like property. They are abused from their youth. It is foolish to submit to their ungodly customs to try to reach them. It is obvious that this young couple does not have the blessing of the Lord on their plans. They are trying to force open a door that God has not opened for them.
In our text, we are reminded that our attitude is important. Jesus gave us the greatest example of this truth. He was tempted by the devil directly. He was also tempted by the servants of the devil — the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Scribes and lawyers and the chief priests. He spoke with conviction but He was always in full control of his own emotions and of the situation at hand. The false teachers hated Him, but that was not because He had a bad attitude toward them. They hated the Truth. They know better now, but it is too late for them.
Grievous words stir up anger. Grievous words are intentionally hurtful words. We can look at Rehoboam who was confronted by Jeroboam and his followers, after the death of king Solomon. Jeroboam was promised ten tribes in Israel by God. He sent a delegation to Rehoboam to see if there was a deal for better living conditions available. Rehoboam consulted the the older men who counselled him to be fairer with the people. Then he consulted the younger men and they told him to put on a tough front and threaten Jeroboam and his men with that.
God told Solomon the kingdom of Israel would be divided after his death. Rehoboam’s response to a fair request was going to see God’s plan carried out. God knows us far better than we know ourselves. When pride rules, we make foolish choices. Rehoboam uttered grievous words and Jeroboam and his men became angry and the kingdom was split. Rehoboam did not perceive the depth of the anger toward him. He thought he could force submission upon the northern ten tribes. God showed him that would not happen. He was told to back off and strengthen what he had left.
We do not need to be like our present day politicians. They lie and they stir up anger and discontentment with their evil ways. We need to know how to speak with boldness that reflects the love of God.
Thus in verse 2 we learn of the importance of using knowledge aright. The wise person will know how to do that. He will know when to speak and what to say. God can guide a humble servant of His to respond in a right manner. Paul did that when standing before the governor and the king. He spoke the truth. He was not ashamed of the truth. God worked through him to convince the king of his wickedness. Due to Paul’s wise use of his tongue, the door was opened for him to be treated in a fair manner, as a prisoner.
The mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. That is very descriptive of our governments. It is also descriptive of false teachers who spew out lies upon lies to keep the gullible eating out of their hands.
The wise person uses knowledge aright. He has discernment. He does not fall for the deception. He seeks out truth and aligns himself with truth. He is a saved person who loves the Lord and wants to know Him better and serve Him more faithfully.
Pastor Bartel