Daily Devotional
               Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.   

  The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:  

Proverbs 25:23-24 (KJV):
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

Proverbs 25:23-24 (AMP):
23 The north wind brings forth rain; so does a backbiting tongue bring forth an angry countenance.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a disagreeing, quarrelsome, and scolding woman.

Thoughts for the Day:

These verses from Proverbs tell us that someone who has a backbiting tongue and a woman who is quarrelsome will cause others to be angry with them. Verse 23 is comparing a north wind that produces a driving rain to someone who is "bad mouthing" a person behind their back. When they find out about it, it will surely produce an angry look from them. Anyone who finds himself outside in a cold, blasting north wind that is accompanied by a driving rain, knows that it is something they want to get out of as quickly as possible.

The same is true about being around anyone who talks about others behind their backs. No one wants to be around them.  If they will talk about others behind their backs, they will also talk about you. That is one reason we should not give an ear to people like that. However, the main reason we should avoid gossip and backbiting is because it will drive us from God's presence. David wrote in Psalms, that those who would be able to abide in God's presence would only be those who walked uprightly and did not backbite with their tongues.

Psalm 15:1-3:
1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

Verse 24 in today's study, warns that a man should be careful about choosing a woman for a wife who is a brawler.  The Amplified translation expands on the definition of a brawler as one who is disagreeing, quarrelsome, and scolding (nagging). This scripture states that even if the woman owned a big house, it would not be enough to compensate for the continual nagging and quarreling that she would direct at her husband. It goes on to say that dwelling in a corner of the housetop (outside on the flat roof, exposed to all kinds of weather) would be a better fate than living with a woman who is a brawler.

This also is an admonition to everyone to be careful of any relationships that we might forge, whether it is a marriage relationship or a friendship. People with bad dispositions are not pleasant to be around.  Those that are always scolding others or nagging people usually, in time, lose their friends, and even their marriages.  We must guard what we say, and also guard what we give an ear to.

Psalm 34:12-16:
12  What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for the wisdom that is found in Your Word. Lord, I desire to take heed to the things that You have written in the Bible.  Give me the grace to speak righteous and good things and to avoid listening to those who would "bad mouth" others. Lord, help me not to be one who would yield to nagging nor belittling others. Lord, guide me in my choice of friends and let me be a faithful and loyal friend at all times. I give You my heart and mouth and may they both agree with Your Word and be pleasing to You.  I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.