BEWARE OF MUDSLINGERS!

1 Chronicles 12:2 AMPC

They were bowmen and could use the right hand or the left to sling stones or shoot arrows from the bow; they were of Saul's kinsmen of Benjamin.

 

If you’ve ever played with mud, you’ll know how hard it is to get it off. Once mud sticks, it’s stuck, and it certainly will do some damage.

There are people whose passion is to sling mud at anyone and every situation regardless of whether they know you or not.

The Bible tells us that mudslingers were frequently employed by Israel, from the time of the Judges into the divided kingdom.

Mudslingers are those who:

Slander (Psalm 101:5; Proverbs 10:18)

False witness (Exodus 20:16)

Backbiting (Romans 1:30)

Reviling (1 Corinthians 6:10

Mudslingers, rumour mongers, and whatever name you want to call them, specialise in creating stories, whether true or false that do not miss their goal, the goal of tarnishing one’s name.

Judges 20:16 says “Among all these people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; everyone could sling stones at a hair breadth and not miss”.

Mudslingers don’t have to have accurate stories; they only need to whisper their story into an accurate ear for maximum damage.

In the Old Testament times, slingers were regular components of an army and were often together with the archers during a siege in warfare and their role was to pick off the enemy from the besieged city’s ramparts. The slingers could hurl a projectile at over one hundred miles an hour and their effective range was more than one hundred yards and never missed their target.

Mudslingers are very adept at using careless words to cause injury and doubt while presenting a compassionate interest in wanting to help or support their victims but Matthew 12:36 says we will give an account of every careless word. Be careful of what you say about others and how you say it, even as you’re careful of those who are quick to dish out their opinions about others without consideration of the effect.

Proverbs 10:18 calls a slanderer or mud slinger a fool, for all they know to do is accuse others falsely. David’s lament in Psalm 7 tells us how much damage and pain are caused by wrongful accusations and slander.

Some of us need to learn to think before we speak, we open our mouths without realising the damage we’re doing to someone’s character, name, and image. According to James 4:11, we essentially speak evil against a child of God and stand in judgment over them.

Senseless mudslinging and evil speaking are unbecoming for a child of God.

Perfect courtesy is what Titus 3:2 recommends that we show each other.

“Thus, they destroyed the cities; and each one threw a stone on every piece of good land and filled it. So, they stopped all the springs of water and felled all the good trees, until in Kir-haroseth only they left its stones; however, the slingers went about it and struck it.

A closer look at our text shows us how much damage a mudslinger can create with a careless action.

Beware of mud slingers!

Mudslingers don’t have any good intentions toward anyone! They will throw rumours around about anyone, and lying accusations at you, they will create situations that will become barriers to your progressive improvement and success and will often stick you where it would hurt the most. Beware of mud slingers according to Proverbs 20:19.

As David discovered, be assured that your vindication is of God according to Romans 12:19, you do not have to engage mudslingers in the bid to right the story, clear your name or stop them. Understand that God will act righteously for you. Beware of mudslingers.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

-        Have I ever spoken carelessly about someone without considering the impact of my words?

-        Do I sometimes listen to gossip or slander without challenging it? How does that affect my spiritual walk?

-        What practical ways can I stop the spread of rumours or false accusations when I encounter them?

PRAYER: Lord, help me guard my tongue and my heart from speaking carelessly or listening to gossip. Give me wisdom to respond with grace and courage when faced with slander. I trust You to be my defender and my vindication. Let my words bring life, not harm, and may I reflect Your love in all I say and do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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