Put away from you a deceitful mouth
Proverbs 4:24
and put devious speech far from you.
As I search ahead in Proverbs to prepare for these short devotionals, I am finding that we will be examining the opposites of truth quite often; like in today’s verse. And, in this case, I think the translations since King James, have missed the nuance of this verse.
Put away from thee a forward mouth,
Proverbs 4:24 (KJV)
and perverse lips put far from thee.
I think the only time I have heard or read the word ‘froward’ in my whole life is in old books and classic movies. And we dare not use the word ‘perverse’ in any fashion in our modern discourse. But, we will look at these two words and their meanings today because they give a clearer picture of just who The Father of Lies pretends really is.
The definitions from the Hebrew for these two words include; “distortion, crookedness” and “deviation, perversity, crookedness.” Always fun when the definitions of words have more words that we don’t use anymore in this day and age! A good old dictionary is needed.
Distortion is “the action of giving a misleading account or impression.”
Deviation is “the action of departing from an established course or accepted standard.”
Perversity is “a deliberate desire to behave in an unreasonable or unacceptable way.”
Crookedness is “the fact of being dishonest or criminal.”
So, who does this sound like from before the beginning of our time on Earth? And who does this sound like at the very beginning of our human timeline? Think about it. Don’t limit your answer to the crafty serpent. Just as a reminder…Day 1 quoted the opening conversation between Eve and Satan.
In summary, Satan asked Eve if God really said what He said that they couldn’t eat from any of the trees in the garden. What a scrooge God must be was Satan’s distortion. Sounds to me that Satan was full of crookedness and perversity from the start of this conversation.
Eve responds, and starts out pretty well. She clarifies that God gave them the fruit from every tree but one. But, sadly, from there she deviates from what the God of Truth commanded them. She adds to what God said and states that they can’t even touch this one tree. That was NOT in God’s command. In her defense, maybe Adam added this bit of distortion when he relayed God’s command. Eve wasn’t created yet when it was given. Either way, she deviated her thoughts and words from the original command. Could it be that even she believed her Creator was a bit of a scrooge and holding back on her and Adam?
Satan then adds a downright lie, though technically correct. Adam and Eve would not immediately die when they ate the ‘forbidden fruit’, not physically, but they would die spiritually. The perfect holy relationship they had with their Creator died in an instant. This was Satan’s first and most devastating Con-Job!
God doesn’t con; not ever! His Words are always The Truth…always constant…never changing!
31 Days in Proverbs 