Wrest My Words

“Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.” (Psalm 56:5)

Have you ever been in this situation before? Where what you say is twisted, the meaning perverted, and what is intended for good is interpreted as bad? It’s almost as if you’re speaking a foreign language. Well, the truth be told, you are. The devil can’t hear truth. Truth contradicts him so the devil must contradict truth to validate and justify himself.

“A wolf can always find in a lamb's discourse a reason for eating him. Prayers are blasphemies if you choose to read them the wrong way upwards.” - Charles Spurgeon

The word “wrest” is usually transliterated as “grieve” in the Bible. Our words are grieved when contorted into their opposite meanings. Of course, the purpose in doing this is for gain and advantage. Not yours, mind you, but for the one wresting your words.

It is an evil tactic in today’s world to twist and pervert what is said. The Politically Correct (PC) take offense of the mildest of statements. The PC purpose is to control the conversation, to control the dialogue so as to control you and the situation. It also affords the PC to alter history and conform it to their idea of what should be. This is particularly egregious because history has little defense. We can’t ask the person who first spoke it, because more than likely they are dead. Plus, the evolution of languages, societies, morals and manners makes understanding original meaning and context rather difficult at times.

Jesus had a simple solution for this. Although this was said in regards to oaths, it’s a pretty good rule to follow when conversing, especially with folks who are looking for anything that they can wrest.

“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (Matthew 5:37).

Clear, concise and to the point. Minimize superlatives, adjectives and most importantly, don’t volunteer information not asked for or germane to the subject at hand. The best thing to do is to simply avoid anyone involved in twisting your words.

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.” (Proverbs 4:14-16)

“Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.” (Proverbs 23:9)

“Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” (Proverbs 9:6-8)

The scorner, the fool, the word wrester does not have your best interest at heart. He has himself. His goal, is to cherry pick your words, to twist them and turn them against you. Does that sound like a person who loves you? Does that sound like someone trying to help you? Does that sound like someone with your best interest at heart that wants to uplift and edify you?

Is this person being kind and charitable and thinks no evil towards you?

Is not this person behaving unseemly and seeking his own benefit, not yours?

Do they bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things for your sake?

The above, although not complete, describes the foundation for love and our religion. If the scorner, the fool, the word wrester is none of it, then have none to do with them.

Remember what Jesus told His disciples: “And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” (Matthew 10:13-14).

Shake the dust off your feet. Enter not into the path of the wicked. Walk away with your peace intact.

Bill Hitchcock

One More

“For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?” (Psalm 56:13)

Doesn’t this describe Jesus perfectly? Our salvation comes through Jesus Christ at the cross. When we stay focused on Him, we will not walk out of the way. And if we happen to slip, Jesus has already paid the price for our transgression. The only way we are able to walk before God and in the light of the living is to be in Christ and Christ in us, for He is our covering.

Bill Hitchcock