Backbiting Tongue

For Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Proverbs 25:23

The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

The backbiting tongue is the tongue that speaks behind a another person's back. It is the negative remark, the insinuating comment that inevitably reaches the ears of the subject, striking him in the way that the north wind strikes with cold, biting rain.

Such a tongue is easy to wield, so easy we are unaware that we are guilty of speaking in such a way. A quick comment to another person, maybe in terms of a joke; however, it is done, the word gets back to the subject of the remark, who responds with "angry looks."

It is possible for someone to be over easily offended, but you need to ask yourself if there is a pattern of people getting offended with you. If you periodically get angry looks or angry remarks, perhaps the problem is not that you are around overly senstive people, but you are unnecessarily offending.

Again, the backbiting tongue is not so much a calculating tongue. The offender is not so much trying to be offensive, as he is letting his natural reactions be made known. The backbiter does not exercise control over his tongue. Well, actually he does exercise enough control to save his comment for a third party. But he feels he must tell someone, like a person having to hold his breath until he can get outside; he "has" to let it out.

If you "must," then let out your thoughts to God. Then be willing to listen to what God has to say. You might get angry looks back from him, but at least they will be for your chastisement.