Spoken to hear

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

SPOKEN TO HEAR

Prov 25:12

12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

NIV

This seems to be a continuation or another way of saying that which we just considered in the preceding saying. However there is a slight difference here. The preceding saying dealt with the words of the speaker being aptly or timely and we viewed them as being the gospel message given as inspired by the Spirit. Here we are seeing more attention to given to the ear of the listener. In addition this is not an aptly spoken word unless of course it would also be timely in giving a rebuke. There is the right time to speak a rebuke, but if it is going to be like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold the ear who hears the rebuke we hear the finest, smoothly and  wisest words. All too often a rebuke is spoken unwisely. It is spoken harshly and too many times as from the judgmental position. There is a partnership in this proverb. First the wise man’s rebuke and second it is to a listening ear. We might well think that an unwisely spoken rebuke falls upon a deaf ear. This would then instruct us to consider deeply how we might, if at all, speak words of rebuke. Of course we also need to consider the Hebrew word translated rebuke. This word is used in a varied sense, but it seems the first sense is to be right, or correct. The listening ear comes from the Hebrew word to obey, or listen. So then there is right and a wrong way to judge the actions or attitudes of another, if we are even to do that. The idea in this word rebuke, is to argue our case for that which is right. It is not to judge the wrong, but to argue for what is right. This is the implied meaning of the word translated rebuke. So then this could once again imply we are speaking words convincingly regarding the gospel message, the only words that are truly right, so that the ear who hears them accepts and responds, obeying the message. Yet, it could also be just the simple human condition of telling someone they need correction because of wrong doing. But that is such a slippery slope as who of us is pure enough to correct another? Who of us is without sin so that we might cast the first stone? Although it is true that we are instructed to go to a brother who is caught up in sin, but that sin has to be against us.

Matt 18:15-17

15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'   17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

NIV

It is not an all-around condition of committing a sin, but it is one that is against us personally. Then we are to go to him in love, not condemnation. Jesus also told us that we are first to get that log out of our own eye before searching for the speck in another’s eye. Which is to mean we should not go around looking for someone who is sinning, even against us. 

Matt 7:3-5

3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother , 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

NIV

Rom 14:10-11

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

NIV

There is much said about not judging each other, not looking at someone else as if they are a wrongdoer. We are also told that if someone offends us and comes to ask forgiveness we are to forgive them seven times seventy times. That is we should not be holding any kind of grudge or unforgiveness within us. So then, after going through this thought process,  we are back to the words of arguing what is right, the words spoken with wisdom so the ear considers them as fine gold ornaments and hears, listens to them, and wears those fine words as gold earrings. How we share the right way, the correct way of thinking and believing in Jesus Christ should be as fine gold.