Monday, July 22, 2013

GOD HATES A FROWARD MOUTH

God's Word says that He hates many things, and it even calls some of them an abomination.  Proverbs 6:16-19 says, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:   a proud look; a lying tongue; and hands that shed innocent blood; an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations; feet that be swift in running to mischief; a false witness that speaketh lies; and he that soweth discord among brethren."  Ironically, the list, though long, does not mention His hatred for the person, only for his attitude and his actions; the one exception being that used for a comparison:  He hated Esau and love Jacob (Mal. 1:1-3; Rom. 9:13).  This is similar to the point Jesus was making in Luke 14:26.  

One of those many things He hates is a "forward mouth" (Prov. 8:13).  God even calls "being froward" an abomination (Prov. 3:32).  Since I did not know what that was, I thought I would do a study on it; it never hurts to make sure I am not guilty of whatever it is! 

The word "froward," by itself, is found in twenty-four verses, twelve of which are in Proverbs.   The phrase "a froward mouth" appears three times in the Bible, all of them are in Proverbs:
*   "Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee" (Prov. 4:24)
*   "A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth" (Prov. 6:12). 
*   "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate" (Prov. 8:13).

The Blue Letter Bible shows one Hebrew word translated "froward" as being עִקְּשׁוּת (`iqqĕshuwth).  It is found in Proverbs 4:24 and 6:12), where it means "distortion" or "crookedness."  A second Hebrew word,  תַּהְפֻּכוֹת (tahpukah), is translated as such in Proverbs 8:13; there, it has to do with "being perverse."   

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary/Thesaurus defines "froward" as:  "habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition."  Synonyms are:  "defiant, disrespectful, ill-mannered, impolite, impudent, insolent, rude, disobedient, headstrong, etc."

While I have been guilty of some of those in the past, and most likely will be again, the cure for a "froward mouth" is found in Philippians 4:8: 

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 

 

2 comments:

  1. please contact me, as I have some questions concerning the Church. Please see mail below from Dr. PJ van jaarsveld (Pieter)

    From: Pieter van Jaarsveld
    Date: Thu, Dec 5, 2019 at 4:24 PM
    To: Mark
    Cc:


    On 8 October 2019, the General Assembly decided to recognize the public commitments (ie not marriage) between persons of the same sex.

    The General Synod has also decided that the office of the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church will not apply on behalf of the pastors of the church to the Department of Home Affairs for licenses that they can confirm public connections between people of the same sex. This responsibility is devolved to church councils as the employers of pastors. Church councils (congregations) can therefore now decide for themselves whether they will apply for their pastor to fulfill public commitments between persons of the same sex.

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    1. My email : Marcodaffue@gmail.com
      cell : (+27) 084 704 6573

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