Proverbs 26:20-22. 20For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. 21As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Today we see three proverbs in a row all about the whisperer. The whisperer is what we would call a slanderer. Slander is far more serious than even gossip. The slanderer doesn’t just tell other people’s business, like a gossip does. The slanderer tries to intentionally cause problems by saying things that aren’t true, or that are half true, so as to make others look bad. And sometimes it’s not actually a whisper is it? Sometimes its loud, and very public.
Slanderers are also called quarrelsome here. Slanderers kindle strife. They throw wood on the fire of other people’s arguments. Maybe all would have been forgiven and forgotten, but the slanderer keeps bringing it up. Often they bring more opinions into the argument by spreading a story around, making even more people upset. Possibly people who weren’t even involved in the first place. But because slander is so delicious, like a tasty morsel, others just eat it up.
Have you ever been slandered? Have you ever been a slanderer?
One place that I’ve seen a whole lot of slanderous quarreling is on social media. Just yesterday I read a post by one Christian accusing another Christian of something. Other people asked if the accusation was even true. Because social media is public, many people were commenting their opinions. The fire was spreading. (I did not comment btw) Social media can be one big whisper. The wise Christian does not join in the feast of social media slander. They should find it repulsive, not delicious. The wise Christian does not fuel the fires of an argument, but rather dowses the flames with peace and love.
In Christ, we have a Savior who endured the greatest whisper ever. Though completely perfect, sinless, and righteous, Jesus was called a treasonous criminal. Literally, at his trial, witnesses lied about what he said and what he did. Strife was kindled against him as the mob was whipped into a murderous frenzy. The hate was palpable. Delicious even. And yet Christ opened not his mouth. Though reviled, he did not revile in return. This slander may have been the most psychologically destructive part of the crucifixion – to know that you are completely innocent, yet treated as though you are completely guilty of things you’ve never done. Beyond the physical pain, the bearing of our sin on the cross was the worst of tortures.
Christ took the slander of man, for you and me. The Christ in you entrusted his life to God, not to his own self-defense or inner lawyer. In him, we can do the same. We can despise the shame. We can confront our slanderers in humility, knowing that we are not Jesus. Not perfect. Not righteous on our own.
With Jesus alive in us there is no need for any other power to take his place. Even the power of putting down others in order to raise ourselves up. Rather than finding satisfaction in the delicious morsels of whispering about others, may our souls forever be satisfied with the sweet bread of life – the indwelling life of Christ.
You: Are you ever slanderous? Have you ever been slandered against?
You in Christ: How does knowing your innocence through Christ allow you to face slander and also keep from slandering?
Christ in you: How does Christ allow you to confront slander with grace, not defensiveness?
Pray: Jesus, you took the accusations and whispers that I deserve so that I can stand innocent by your blood. Keep me from proud slander and self-defense as I seek to reconcile all to you. Amen.
To Live is Christ 