Bible Reading: Psalm 10, 11, 12; Acts 19:1-20
Memory Verse: “The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:” Psalm 12:3 (KJV)
Flattery has been defined as excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one’s own interest. Flattering lips simply means the lips that flatter! Flattering could be about self as in Psalm 36:2 (KJV), “For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.” This happens when you praise yourself excessively or insincerely usually to show off to others or give wrong impression to others about yourself. You can also flatter others, which is common. This you do usually to curry their favour. Proverbs 29:5 (KJV) says, “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” This is what happened to Herod when he sat on his throne and made oratory speech to his people and they shouted saying his voice was that of a god and not of a man. The angel of the Lord smote him immediately and was eaten by worms to death! ( Acts 12:21-23).
Interestingly flattering lips can be about God himself. This is when you say insincere things about God. Psalm 78:35-36 (KJV) says, “And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. [36] Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.”
Flattering is a double edged sword; it does no man any good. In case of those who are flattered, they end up doing the wrong thing like Darius the king when the group of presidents and princes of Babylon conspired against Daniel and told King Darius to live for ever and further asked him to emplace a decree that will make him superior to even God Almighty. He listened and the decree led to putting Daniel in the den of lion. But he regretted it and it caused him a lot of anxiety ( Daniel 6:3-21). King Darius was apparently lucky because God saw his sincerity to Daniel but Herod was not so lucky, he lost his life because he did not show any remorse for being addressed as a god! (Acts 12:23).
And for those who flatter, God himself said of them in Psalm 12:3 (KJV), “The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:” This means death and this was the case of those who flattered Darius in Daniel 6:24 as they were all cast into the den of lion and were killed! Are you involved in flattering even as jokes? God detests flattering lips, so desist from it.
Action Point: Examine yourself and ensure you do not flatter anyone from today onward.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero