A BIRD MAY TELL IT

"Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter" (Eccl 10:20)

Those who "despise dominion" (Jude 8), find it easy to speak reproachfully of those higher than themselves. Solomon urges his readers to be cautious about such practices, even including the cursing of the rich. Although it may be done in the privacy of "your bedroom," the wise man says, one of God's impersonal flying fowls may blaze abroad the matter. We surely live in a generation that needs to hear this!

Those who are at a distance from the Lord suffer from the delusion that what they do and say can effectively be hidden. But this is not the case at all. Early in human history, the Lord made clear that sin comes back to haunt the one committing it. Remember the words of God to Israel? "But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out" (Num 32:23).

Speaking of the same principle, Jesus said, "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops" (Lk 12:2-3).

After Joseph's brothers had meant Joseph, and before they knew it was him, they sighed, "God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants" (Gen 44:16). The Psalmist said our "secret sins" are placed in the light of God's countenance (Psa 90:8)–that is, He sees them fully, and considers them. Again, speaking of those who attempt to hide their sinful expressions, the Psalmist says, "even the night shall be light about me," making openly clear what men have attempted to hide (Psa 139:11). Elsewhere Solomon said "Evil pursues sinners" (Prov 13:21), and it is relentless in its pursuit. Again, the wicked are told: "Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him" (Isa 3:11).

All of this is to say people cannot escape reaping what they sow. The crop a person plants is the crop he will reap. It is not possible to "sow to the flesh" and reap from the Spirit. Contrariwise, it is not possible to "sow to the Spirit" and reap corruption (Gal 6:8).

It behooves the people of God to be sensitive about these things. Sometimes, when we speak unadvisedly with our mouths, word somehow gets out about what we have said. The uniformed may chide their friends for telling their secret, but that is not how the saints are to view the matter. Rather, it is like a bird in flight picking up the words and telling them out where you do not want them told. When the winds carry our words and deeds where we rather they would not go, it is the Lord working with us–fulfilling the principle of the text we are reviewing.

Of particular importance is the matter of speaking against "the King of kings." No person in their right mind would do such a thing. But, men are not always in their right mind. If Solomon warned against speaking against the kings of this world, what about the King of glory? What of those who chide the Lord for "allowing things to happen" they do not think should happen? What of those who get angry with God, and are not hesitant to say so? The religious sophists of our day let people think this is all right–like getting rid of your frustration. That, however, is bad advice.

With great power, the Lord speaks to those bold enough to find fault with Him, and question His judgments. "You thought that I was altogether like you" (Psa 50:21). To be sure, "the Lord knows the thoughts of man" (Psa 94:11). Nothing is hidden from Him! As it is written, "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Heb 4:13). No person can hide from that.

Faith can assist us in this matter, giving us boldness to address any tendencies we may have to be loose in our speech. With David we can cry out to God, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psa 19:14). He will hear.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus I ask for grace to speak words I would not be ashamed to have repeated by a bird in flight.

-- Monday: ETERNAL SALVATION --