Loose Lips

You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.  -- Leviticus 19:14

It is an illusion to think that anyone ever gets away with anything.  We may speak ill to or of the deaf – or more likely – “behind the back” of someone.  No other human may ever hear what we mutter in the attics of our houses or our heads, but it is heard just the same.  It is a vibration in the spirit as a radio signal is a vibration in the electromagnetic spectrum, at least as real and with as much effect.  This may be disturbing to contemplate.  It kept a weary old man awake a while thinking about it last night.

Our smallest acts and idle words, our very thoughts are known in that highest of courts in heaven, be they righteous and honest or deceptive and dark.  It cannot be otherwise.  We can argue that much of it is trivial, and it is.  Most of the time our words lack the force of thought to propel them any distance and are so much worthless nonsense.  The worst that can be said of it is that it wastes our time or distracts us.  There are days when I think someone has cursed me.  I’m the usual suspect.  My words may have no effect on another, but they quite likely put me out of communion with the Father. 

Whether we realize it or not, our intentional and purposeful words -- of love or lust, goodwill or envy, are said before the Lord, and, possibly, before angels and demons.  Cursing a deaf person may do him no actual harm.  Putting a stumbling block in the path of a blind man may not trip him up.   Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight (Proverbs 26:2).  I believe that, and I believe that the righteous and the godly are generally given protection from curses.  If, however, a curse has a cause, that is, if someone is deserving of it (we can't deny that many are) and does not “abide in the shadow of the Almighty”, as Psalm 91 says, it could harm them. 

The blind and deaf are not limited to the physically handicapped.  Those who do not believe are spiritually disabled.  They see and hear only with the eyes and ears of the flesh.  As Christians, we have to be careful not to cause them more trouble.  As Rick reminded me so effectively the other day, “They know not what they do.”  We do not know when they will find their way onto the right path, the way of repentance, life and grace, and we certainly do not want them to stumble and fall or be hindered in some way by us if and when that happens.  Christians are often the biggest stumbling blocks non-Christians encounter.  Some of that is just a smokescreen and an excuse to live like the devil, but it is up to us to do our best to make sure it is never a valid criticism.  Peter said:  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Well, I could have saved myself some typing and just copied verses from First Peter.  

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.  (1 Peter 2:12)

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)

Or, like Peter, copied Psalm 34 (vv12-17):  

What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? 

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.