The Dangers of Flattery – Part 2

I know that I have already written a post on “The Dangers of Flattery”, but the following verses sure did jump out at me the other day:

“Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.” Job 32:21,22 

Elihu is speaking in the above verses, and, though he is the youngest of Job’s friends, he shows much wisdom in what he is saying. Matthew Henry’s comments on these verses are as follows:

>>No, though Elihu is a young man, and upon his preferment, he will not dissemble truth to court the favour of great men. It is a good resolution he has taken up–“I know not to give flattering titles to men; I never used myself to flattering language;” and it is a good reason he gives for that resolution–in so doing my Maker would soon take me away. It is good to keep ourselves in awe with a holy fear of God’s judgments. He that made us will take us away in his wrath if we do not conduct ourselves as we should. He hates all dissimulation and flattery, and will soon put lying lips to silence and cut off flattering lips, Ps 12:3. The more closely we eye the majesty of God as our Maker, and the more we dread his wrath and justice, the less danger shall we be in of a sinful fearing or flattering of men.<< ~ Matthew Henry

I realize this may not be a topic we often hear taught or preached, but that fact does not make void the consequences of a flattering tongue. I think we can see here as well as in other passages that, with God, it is a serious matter.

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

~ Rachel ~