I confess—I would make a terrible politician in the cloak and dagger world of 21st century politicians. Unkept promises and deliberate lies have become standard protocol for office holders. Whether a Republican saying, “Read my lips; no new taxes” or a Democrat stating emphatically, “If you like your Healthcare plan, you can keep your Healthcare plan”…our society has accepted the words and promises of men and women whom the Bible describes as having “an evil eye”—they readily tell you what you want to hear!
Proverbs 23:6-8 offers us insight into the evil ways and motives of one who pretends to be your friend while plotting your ruin. The character in this triumvirate of proverbs is a man of wealth and influence who has invited you to his banquet.
Proverbs 23:6-8 – “Eat thou not the bread [food; meat] of him that hath an evil [sinful; selfish] eye [passion], neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he [the host with an “evil eye”] thinketh in his heart [soul], so is he: Eat and drink [imbibe; drunk], saith he [the host with an evil eye] to thee; but his heart [mind; feelings] is not with thee. 8 The morsel [piece of meat or bread] which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose [corrupt; destroy] thy sweet [pleasant; agreeable] words.”
Solomon exhorts his son to exercise caution and restraint when invited to the banquet of an evil, self-centered man. A man of discretion has no appetite for such a pretentious occasion (23:6); he discerns the way of an evil host who feigns friendship and generosity, while plotting another man’s ruin. The evil man urges his guest to imbibe, hoping to loosen his lips while tightening a noose about the neck of his victim.
Solomon warns, accept the invitation and entertain the flattery of an evil man’s table at your own peril. When your evil host has sprung the trap, you will not only lose your appetite, you will also have to eat your words!
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