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.
