Pastor Deb Walsh
Dear Beloved:
Ecclesiastes 10:20 states “Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.”
This verse has been my meditation for quite some time. The AI explanation does a good job stating:
It emphasizes the power of words and their potential consequences.
The context suggests that criticism can lead to unforeseen repercussions.
The verse encourages respect for authority and caution in communication.
However, let’s take a deeper dive. We should align our identity to Christ – as followers of Christ. We should be more concerned with what God thinks than what man thinks. The understanding of this verse in accordance with the Bible is:
God has instituted governing authority; to speak – or even think – contemptuously is to oppose Him
(Rom 13:1-2, Prov 24:21).
Jesus affirmed this principle when He told Pilate, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given you
from above” (John 19:11). If Christ recognized God’s hand behind an imperfect ruler, we can too.
Sin begins in the heart (Matt 15:18-19). Keeping inner attitudes pure, guards outer behavior.
Respecting leaders isn’t blind endorsement of every policy; it is obedient acknowledgment of God’s order
while still allowing for godly appeal (Acts 24:10-13).
There is also so much more to study and discuss in the context of this verse including birds of the sky and winged creatures that I won’t go into here. However, we do need to be careful of our words. Every word we say, as a reminder, is recorded in heaven. Even if we don’t say anything but think it, God knows our hearts and knows what we think before we think it.
Psalms 139:2 – You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar
The enemy seeks to kill, steal and destroy and one of the age-old tactics is to divide us. Being aware of this, let’s do more to unite with others and love each other with respect and courtesy. Let’s be mindful who we are. We are made in the image of God. We are precious in His sight. We are ordained, chosen and loved by the one and only God. Guard your hearts and minds. Keep your mind on things above and not below. How do you do that? Ask God to come into your heart and let Him transform you. He will guide and lead your steps and make your crooked paths straight. Once you do, God promises to give you the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). Find a Bible and a Bible-believing church. Know you are loved beyond comprehension by the God who created heaven and earth.
Love,
Pastor Dr. Deb Walsh
