Perverted speech.

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
    and I find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and perverted speech I hate.
I have counsel and sound wisdom;
    I have insight; I have strength. Proverbs 8:12-14

What really is ‘perverted speech’? The Hebrew word here is תַּהְפֻכָה / tahpukah / tah-poo-kah which conveys the twisting or overturning of what is straight. Scripture places the term in the realm of moral distortion—behavior, speech, and attitudes that invert God’s order and therefore court His judgment. This is one of the main strategies and tool of the enemies of God. It was used first in the Garden of Eden with Eve and then Adam. Perverted speech twists the clear and straight meaning of the Truth. This strategy is legal language that seeks another definition of a word, and questions the clear meaning of the original moral directive. Its basis is the very hatred of God and everything He stands for. Wisdom cannot exist in perverted speech. Pride and arrogance are the attitudes that birth perverted speech. This is why pride is SO dangerous in the heart of humankind.

There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies,
    and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19

Where did it all the perverse speech begin? With our ‘elder’ created race and the first rebellion against God.

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:7-9

This is why our heart posture is SO important to God. What really is sitting at the very foundation of our being / soul? How did Jesus describe this condition?

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

When all is exposed – what will be the very essence of us? What really is at the core of our heart and soul? Is ‘self’ the basis of all that you are and do? Do you allow the Holy Spirit to shine His light into the dark crevices of your heart and soul and expose those ‘selfish’ iniquities? Can you admit them before God? Do you identify at all with Paul’s statement in Galatians 2:20?

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

And this statement in 2 Corinthians 5:14-16?

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.

If you are not living ‘in Christ’ …who’s life are you living? This will be the very basis of our core heart which God will examine and eventually will put on display for all.

Jesus declared…

So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Matthew 10:26

This should not scare or trouble anyone who is truly ‘in Christ’. Those who actually “know” Him rejoice at this truth. Not know ‘of’ Him, but actually ‘know’ Him.

Father … we worship YOU! Jesus … YOU are the Truth! Holy Spirit reveal our hearts to us. Shine your Light into the very core of our soul and being. Cleanse any ‘perverted’ way within us, and may it be purged completely from us! Lord… we accept YOUR sacrifice and blood for our sins! Come Holy Spirit and reveal the truth about us!