Haunting taunting ∙∙
Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing. – Proverbs 12:18
1 Samuel 1:5-18
5 [Elkanah] loved Hannah, but the LORD had not enabled her to have children.
6 Her rival taunted Hannah and made fun of her because the LORD had kept her from having children.
7 Year after year, it was the same. She would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.
10 She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.
11 And she made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut.”
12 As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her.
13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking.
15 “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD.
16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”
17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”
18 “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.
In September 2015, Dr. Sandra D. Wilson wrote Hurt People Hurt People: Hope and Healing for Yourself and Your Relationships. “Dr. Sandy Wilson knows why people hurt, where they hurt, and how to heal those hurts. She gets right to the heart of these matters in her very insightful and provocative book. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to break free from the bondage of unhealed personal hurts” (Dr. Chris Thurman, author of The Lies We Believe).
“‘Hurt people hurt people’ is more than a clever phrase; it’s a sad truth. Hurt people hurt others because they themselves have been hurt. And each one of us has been hurt to one degree or another. As that damage causes us to become defensive and self-protective, we may lash out at others. Hurting becomes a vicious cycle” (Wilson, Back Cover).
Who hasn’t been cut by taunting, cruel, and demeaning words? Most of us have been emotionally bruised by mean, spiteful, and mocking remarks. Many may have experienced physical bruises.
Physical bruises fade away, but unkind words leave deep, long-lasting scars. These verbal wounds can echo throughout a lifetime, breeding self-doubt and self-hate.
Hannah lived in a culture where a woman’s worth was tied to her ability to bear children. Women with many children were highly valued, while those with few or none were not. Her husband, Elkanah, was an exceptional man who loved her deeply, cherishing her even more because she was childless. Yet, despite his kindness, gentleness, and compassion, he could not erase the pain of her childlessness.
REFLECT & PRAY
Hurt people, hurt people!
Father thank You for understanding me and being there for me to calm my spirit and soothe my bruised emotions. How I long to recover from the emotional scars of a lifetime.
INSIGHT
Psalms 106:32-33
32 At Meribah, too, they angered the LORD, causing Moses serious trouble.
33 They made Moses angry, and he spoke rashly.
His ill-advised words haunted him for the rest of his life. Like any of us, Moses occasionally lost his temper and blurted out words he should never have spoken. However, as the Father’s chosen spokesman and leader, he was held to a higher standard than most.
Moses’ role extended beyond mere authority; he was a living example of godly values. Consequently, his moments of weakness carried significant repercussions. His elevated position meant that every word and deed reflected the God he served. Thus, when Moses became angry and uttered harsh words, it wasn’t just a personal fault but a violation of the sacred trust bestowed upon him.
Proverbs 12:18 Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.
“The sense of this verse is: bad talk hurts, gentle words heal” (USB). Moses’ words were piercing, cutting harmful remarks.
The Hebrew word “bata” means speaking rashly, recklessly, foolishly, or thoughtlessly. It signifies impetuous speech. These are “words that are spoken too quickly and without adequate thought. Such hasty words are compared to sword thrusts, which are quick jabs made with a sword” (UBS). Swords are instruments of war designed to harm or kill. The word “sword” symbolizes deliberate and indiscriminate slaughter (Waltke).
In colloquial English, we might say: “His words went right through me,” “Her words cut me to the quick,” or even “Their words killed me” (Waltke).
Each of us has the power to hurt or to heal. Our words either pierce like a sword that punctures, cuts, and maims, or they provide healing, calming, and a restorative balm.
Too often, rash words are spoken without sufficient thought, control, or consideration of the consequences. Once spoken, they can never be taken back.
This single lapse in temper became a pivotal moment in Moses’ life, affecting his legacy. It prevented him from entering the promised land and served as a constant reminder of the immense responsibility that came with his leadership. Unlike others who might be forgiven and their words forgotten for similar transgressions, Moses’ outburst remained a lasting blemish on his otherwise exemplary record, illustrating the profound truth that those who lead are judged by a higher standard.
But God can help us break that cycle. He offers His healing and hope: The Lord Jesus Christ is the only all-sufficient healer for hurt people. The Father has chosen to graciously use people as His instruments of healing. He provides hope!
- Hope that we will see more clearly how God can use our wounding experiences for good
- Hope that our scars will one day sing the praises of our living and loving Savior, even as we embrace the reality of choice, change, and transformation
- Hope that sees in the fragments of broken lives the reflection and triumph of Jesus’s empty tomb (Wilson, Back Cover)
Proverbs 15:4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.
When hurtful situations arise that stir up anger, each child of the King can take a moment and reflect on how to respond. Our words can be gracious, kind, and attractive. Or they can be cruel, hurtful, and destructive. The choice is ours.
Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so your words will encourage those who hear them.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 2-17-2
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 