Flaming Arrows of Death

My Bible reading for today included this verse from Proverbs:

Proverb 26:18-19

Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death

is one who deceives a neighbor
and says, "I was only joking!"


Wow what a powerful proverb. This proverb speaks of threatening someone with weapons that can hurt and then when countered say, “I was only kidding.”

The tongue is a compared to a flaming arrow that can penetrate deep. And if you are shooting your mouth off, you must be a madman!

So a madman is shooting flaming arrows at his neighbors, his friend and probably at his family. Why? Many times it is survival.

When we are caught in our deceitful ways we are quick to respond that it was just a joke. But who is left laughing?

James 3:8 … no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.