Tammuz 10
Slander
“Who may live on Your holy mountain? … The
one who … does not slander with his tongue.”
(Ps 15:1-3 TLV)
Râgal
(Strong’s H7270) is the Hebrew word that has been translated in our opening
passage as ‘slander’, and it paints quite a vivid picture. The image that we get is one who is walking
about, spying on everything around him/her, then running rough-shod over – or trampling
– another underfoot. When we stop to
think about this, it is certainly an accurate picture of one who engages in
this type of activity.
Noah Webster defines ‘slander’ as “To defame; to injure
by maliciously uttering a false report respecting one; to tarnish or impair the
reputation of one by false tales, maliciously told or propagated.”[1] We see so much of this going on in today’s
headlines, where political opponents – and even those of Hollywood notoriety –
continuously defame, slander, and sling as much mud as possible at those they
believe to be in the wrong. Elohim is
not pleased with such behavior, and I prayerfully hope that there are no Torah
observant believers participating in such conduct. We are certainly all entitled to our
opinions; however, it is very possible to voice our opinions in such a way that
we do not belittle and defame any who are in opposition to us.
Years ago, I read
an essay by a Christian pastor who made the comment that ‘slander was, in
essence, murder with the tongue’. In
reality, slander finds its root in pride, for just who do we think we are to injure
and destroy one who is made in the image of our Creator? Who set us on the throne of judge, jury and
executioner? Does slander truthfully fit
in to the composition of “loving our neighbor as ourselves”? (Lev 19:18)
It is the person
who refuses to use his/her words as instruments of mass destruction that will
ultimately be a part of the Kingdom of Elohim; such a person is letting the
light of Torah shine brightly through him/her.
May we all – myself include – take note of this vital requirement in our
application for citizenship with our Messiah King.
“He who watches over
his mouth guards his being, But he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” (Pro 13:3 ISR)
“If anyone does not
stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the entire body …
And the tongue is a fire, the world of
unrighteousness. Among our members the tongue is set, the one defiling the
entire body, and setting on fire the wheel of life, and it is set on fire by
Gehenna.” (James 3:2, 6
ISR)
©2018
No comments:
Post a Comment