When we think of biting something, we think of doing so with our teeth; but backbiting is a work of the tongue. Backbiting is the act of saying something about someone with the intention of harming them personally. In our passage, we learn that backbiting is detestable to the Lord; so much so, that David said the backbiter would not abide in the Lord's tabernacle. Our tongue is a dangerous weapon that is often used of the Devil to harm others. According to James 3, the tongue kindles a great fire (James 3:5) and is a world of iniquity (James 3:6). The old phrase "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is unscriptural. The Bible says that our tongue is "full of deadly poison" (James 3:8). Backbiting wounds its victims!
Many things change from the Old Testament to the New Testament, but some themes are consistent in both. One such theme is that the Lord desires to use things and people that are pure. The Lord commanded His people in the Old Testament to make sure that the things in the tabernacle were purified (Leviticus 8:15). He also commanded that His servants be purified (Ezra 6:20). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul confirms the continuation of this theme by saying that "pureness" approved him as a minister of God (2 Corinthians 6:4-6). God still requires that those who serve strive to live pure and holy lives. Impurities hinder the Lord's effectiveness in our lives.
God is pure in every way, and as such, it follows that the words He speaks must also be pure. In Psalm 19:8, we read that "the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes." In Psalm 119:140, the writer says, "Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it." Both of these verses speak of the word of God as a whole. In other words, the word of God in its entirety is without any foreign substance that would defile. In Psalm 12:6, we learn that the "words of the LORD are pure words." In case we might wonder which words, the Lord made sure to give us Proverbs 30:5 which says, "Every word of God is pure." The world wants us to believe that the Bible is defiled, but God says otherwise. Who will you believe?
In the context of this passage, the Lord had been dealing with a Samaritan woman in the absence of His disciples. When the disciples returned, the woman left to tell others that she had found the Christ. The disciples had gone to get some food and begged the Lord to eat; but instead of eating, the Lord took the opportunity to teach His disciples. He told them that His main focus was to complete the will of God. In the lesson, the Lord brought the attention of His disciples to a harvest. He emphasized that souls were not to be labored for in the future, but now. The fields were white already to harvest. There was no time for delay.
Nations are vulnerable! At any moment, the Lord could raise up a new nation or destroy one that currently exists. Military might, a sound economy, a good job market, and great leadership will offer no resistance when once the Lord has set His mind against a nation. According to Daniel 4:35, "all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he [the Lord] doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" The Lord does whatsoever pleases Him (Psalm 135:6). At any point He could lead "princes away spoiled" or overthrow "the mighty" (Job 12:19).
There are many nations led by many leaders, but there is only one "whose name alone is JEHOVAH," and He it is that is "the most high over all the earth." Unfortunately, the nations of this earth are all too often too nearsighted to recognize that they, nor their leaders, are the highest authority. Deuteronomy 4:39 confirms this truth by saying, "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else." This is not merely a doctrinal truth, but one to be considered in the heart of man. Why? Because every individual, family, community, state, and nation must recognize that God is "the most high."
It does not take long to learn that the actions of natural men are guided by self-serving motives. Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit because of the perceived benefits they would receive (Genesis 3:6). It was likewise a self-serving motive that drove Cain to kill his brother Abel (Genesis 4:3-8; 1 John 3:11-13). Even when God meted out Cain's judgment, Cain selfishly said, "My punishment is greater than I can bear" (Genesis 4:13). This is all the world knows: self-preservation and self-promotion. This puts the world at the polar opposite of God who gave His Son so that His enemies (Romans 5:10) could have eternal life.
The world often accuses believers of being arrogant or narrow-minded because of the believer's certainty concerning the things he believes. Though there are certainly times when believers do behave themselves in an arrogant manner, the godly believer is certain of his beliefs, because he is certain of his authority. According to Titus 2:15, the believer can "speak, and exhort, and rebuke" the truths found within the Bible with all authority. Why? Because the Bible is the word of the God that has all authority. It is not therefore arrogance which causes a believer to be unwilling to waver on what he believes, but faith in the written words of his God.
God is angry every day. He is angry at the same time He is love (1 John 4:8), and righteous (Ezra 9:15), and compassionate (Psalm 86:15), and just (Deuteronomy 32:4), and merciful (Deuteronomy 4:31). The source of God's anger and the means by which He acts upon His anger sets the standard for righteous anger. If anything that was righteous was able to provoke God to anger, it would strongly suggest a sinful nature. God, however, is provoked to anger by sin (1 Kings 16:2), vanity (1 Kings 16:26), and idolatry (1 Kings 22:53). Each of these plainly declares God to be righteous in nature. The source of His anger sets forth the only sources by which men ought to become angry.
Stewardship is a difficult task, but it is not without reward. Just as the Lord Jesus presented in His parables of stewardship, the faithful steward receives reward at the time of accounting for his stewardship. The apostle Paul confessed this truth in 1 Corinthians 9:17 when he said, "if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward." Paul knew God had a special calling on his life, and he knew he would stand before God to give an account for his service. In like manner, each believer will one day stand before the Master (Jesus Christ) to give an account of his stewardship. Those who have served as good stewards will receive reward, while those who have not will suffer loss (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).
