Bitter, Strife

Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Bitter - G4089 - Perhaps from G4078 (through the idea of piercing); sharp (pungent), that is, acrid (literally or figuratively).

• G4078 - A prolonged form of a primary verb (which in its simpler form occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses); to fix (“peg”), that is, (specifically) to set up (a tent).

Interesting visual - a tent peg.  Though, having pitched many a tent and driven more pegs, I can 'see' the 'point'.

This bitter is used only twice, both times in James.  The other passage is:

Jas 3:11  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 

Strife - G2052 - Perhaps from the same as G2042; properly intrigue, that is, (by implication) faction.

• G2042 - From a presumed prolonged form of G2054; to stimulate (especially to anger).
• G2054 - From G2056; a kidling, that is, (generally) goat (symbolically wicked person).
• G2056 - Perhaps from the same as G2053 (through the idea of hairiness); a kid or (generally) goat.
• G2053 - Of obscure affinity; wool.

I'd never have thought of strife and goat as having any similarities.  We've had friends who have goats and they can indeed be trying!

Used 7 times - 

Rom 2:8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

2Co 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 

Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

Php 1:16  The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

Then again in our James' passages above.  The goat imaginary is causing me to 'see' these passages differently.  Goats are so...so...goaty {laugh}.  They are headstrong, independent...researching....

This site, stated:

"Goats are capricious. They are impulsive and unpredictable, devious and contrary. If they are not poking their heads through fences, they may be standing on their hind legs, stretching for those tender leaves just out of reach. Goats are never content with what they have.

They are experts in opening gates and squeezing through small gaps because they hate to be confined. Fences that will handle sheep, cattle, and horses will not hold goats. They will work tirelessly to spring themselves from any situation they deem inhibiting.

Consequently, goats are not very good followers. "Gregarious behavior" is a term that refers to the flocking or herding instinct which is found strongly in sheep, cattle, and horses. Again, this quality is rather weak in goats; they prefer leading or going off on their own."

This is somewhat disconcerting, I 'see' some of the above behavior in myself.  Not necessarily impulsive, unpredictable, devious or contrary (at least I don't think so!).  I do see myself as wanting to 'lead' and 'go off on my own'.  Independent.  Not, I hope, to cause disunity within a body of believers.

For the curious among us, differences between sheep and goats:

Sheep 101

I found this statement from Creation [dot] com interesting:

"...sheep and goats in Asia and Africa are often similar in appearance..."

Which would make the Matthew passage about separating out the sheep from the goats easier to understand.

So who do you most resemble?

Order of Melchisedec

Melchisedec - G3198.  Used 9x, all in Hebrews.

Heb 5:6  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 

Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 

Heb 7:1  For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 

Heb 7:10  For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 

Heb 7:11  If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 

Heb 7:15  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 

Heb 7:17  For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 

Heb 7:21  (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 

G3198 - Of Hebrew origin [H4442]; Melchisedek (that is, Malkitsedek), a patriarch.

• H4442 - From H4428 and H6664; king of right; Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine: - Melchizedek. Used twice in the OT.

Gen 14:18  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 

Psa 110:4  The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 

The name is used 6 times in the NT preceded by 'order', once in the OT.

OT - Order - H1700 - Feminine of H1697; a reason, suit or style: - cause, end, estate, order, regard.

NT - Order - G5010 - From G5021; regular arrangement, that is, (in time) fixed succession (of rank or character), official dignity.

Browsing through commentaries on 'order' and/or 'Melchizedek(c).  This from Gill on Hebrews 7:11:

"what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? that there was another priest promised and expected, and that he should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and who was to make his soul an offering for sin, is certain, Ezr_2:63 and such an one is risen, even Jesus of Nazareth; and yet there would have been no need of him, and especially that he should be of a different order from Aaron's, had there been perfection by the Levitical priesthood."

I was pondering upon the order of Aaron and how there is difference between the 'priests'.  One was a temporary, while the other eternal.  One demanded obedience by strict law, while the other (because of the inward change) woos us to love the Lord with all our spirit, soul and body.  To give unto Him who has given so liberally to us.  Not demanding devotion, time, sacrifice.  Waiting ever so patiently as we are transformed into His image to give a better representation of Him.

O' Father, how grievous are we in Your sight?  How oft do we love that which gives pleasure to our flesh, despising deep fellowship with You and Your Word.  Halting in our duty to You.  O' Lord, create a passion and desire to know You more intimately, to long for fellowship with You in Your Word.

Beware the Flatterer

Pro 20:19  He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

I was curious, what/who is a flatterer?  Word study time!

flattereth - H6601 - A primitive root; to open, that is, be (causatively make) roomy; usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be (causatively make) simple or (in a sinister way) delude.

Used 28 times in 26 verses.  The first usage:

Gen 9:27  God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Also used in Judges 14:15 and 16:15

Entice - Exodus 22:6; 2 Chronicles 18:19-21; Job 31:27; Proverbs 1:10, 16:29; and Jeremiah 20:10

Deceive or deceived - Deuteronomy 11:16; 2 Samuel 3.25; Job 31:9; Proverbs 24:28; Jeremiah 20:7; and Ezekiel 14:9 (2)

Persuade - 1 Kings 22:20-22; and Proverbs 25:15

Silly - Job 5:2; and Hosea 7:11

Flatter - Psalm 78:36; and Proverbs 20:19

Allure - Hosea 2:14 - Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. 

I don't ever remember seeing the word 'silly'!  I used the word with my children (versus stupid).  My!  Silly isn't much better!

So someone who 'flatters' does so to entice, deceive, persuade, allure, or enlarge.  The first type of person who comes to mind, is a sales person.  They will tell or say almost anything to 'seal the deal'.

Sometimes known as a 'brown noser' - not a pretty phrase, but one who 'sucks' up to someone (usually a position of authority) in order to 'gain' for themselves.

I'm pondering if I 'speak' true words...or if anything I say could be construed (or is!!!) 'flattery' - I'm not talking compliments - but speaking in a way to someone to 'puff' up their vanity or engage their 'favor' in order to gain something for myself.  All without sincerity or truth.

God tells us to let our yes be yes and our no be no.  Lord, help us Your people to speak truth, to compliment and encourage truthfully, without hypocrisy or deceit.  To applaud appropriately, but to also admonish when needed.