Proverbs 17:19
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
This proverb leads us again to a Hebrew idiom. Hebraism often compares the mouth to ‘gates’. We find this kind of expression in Micah 7:5: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom: The expression ‘elevate his gates’, or as it is found in other translations: ‘elevate his mouth’, refers to someone who speaks in a proud and arrogant manner.
Some find it a virtue to be strife-driven. Our text is clear though that he who loves strife loves transgression. Debates and discussion are all right, as they are the means by which we learn, but strife is an element of transgression and sin.
Our author/King (and I purposely remind the reader of the elevated status of our author) spent hours judging people listening to case after case. When we are in such a position of having to listen to people’s issues with each other, we start finding patterns. There certainly are cases with legitimate issues and problems, but in many cases, issues are created because of the arrogance of one party, or even of both. Another proverb of our same author mentions that strife disappears once the proud is taken out of the picture.
Sometimes I am reminded of radio talk-show hosts who speak in such a strife-driven way. After you listen to them for five minute you feel all riled up about something that didn’t even cross our mind before, or didn’t even know. Through these, we are not informed, educated, nor even led to positive action and attitude. We are simply and solely exposed to someone’s spirit of frustration and anger. We are made to partake of somebody else’s hot air, confusion and spirit of strife. Issues in the world need to be exposed and addressed, but in a sprit of wisdom, prayer and trust in God’s overall Plan. The Antichrist is the ultimate one who will be known to ‘elevate his gate’ in a very arrogant mouth
Let us not be guilty of such attitude. Let us not exalt our mouth through arrogance and pride provoking strife and destruction. Before uttering any word, especially about things that are sensitive to us, let us always pray: please God, put a guard over my mouth.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
This proverb leads us again to a Hebrew idiom. Hebraism often compares the mouth to ‘gates’. We find this kind of expression in Micah 7:5: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom: The expression ‘elevate his gates’, or as it is found in other translations: ‘elevate his mouth’, refers to someone who speaks in a proud and arrogant manner.
Some find it a virtue to be strife-driven. Our text is clear though that he who loves strife loves transgression. Debates and discussion are all right, as they are the means by which we learn, but strife is an element of transgression and sin.
Our author/King (and I purposely remind the reader of the elevated status of our author) spent hours judging people listening to case after case. When we are in such a position of having to listen to people’s issues with each other, we start finding patterns. There certainly are cases with legitimate issues and problems, but in many cases, issues are created because of the arrogance of one party, or even of both. Another proverb of our same author mentions that strife disappears once the proud is taken out of the picture.
Sometimes I am reminded of radio talk-show hosts who speak in such a strife-driven way. After you listen to them for five minute you feel all riled up about something that didn’t even cross our mind before, or didn’t even know. Through these, we are not informed, educated, nor even led to positive action and attitude. We are simply and solely exposed to someone’s spirit of frustration and anger. We are made to partake of somebody else’s hot air, confusion and spirit of strife. Issues in the world need to be exposed and addressed, but in a sprit of wisdom, prayer and trust in God’s overall Plan. The Antichrist is the ultimate one who will be known to ‘elevate his gate’ in a very arrogant mouth
Let us not be guilty of such attitude. Let us not exalt our mouth through arrogance and pride provoking strife and destruction. Before uttering any word, especially about things that are sensitive to us, let us always pray: please God, put a guard over my mouth.
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