Come Not Thou Into Their Secret
Today’s Verse:
O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. ~Genesis 49:6
Jacob lived a ripe and good life. God blessed him with 147 years of life. At one point, he described his years as being few and full of sorrow. However, he ended his life in peace and thankfulness. Before he left this life, he gathered his sons together and made some frank, startling, and truthful characterizations about them. Jacob was precise and prophetical in what he said. Two of his sons, Simeon and Levi, are characterized by the descriptions of anger, cruelty, and wrath. They were two mean-spirited brothers who left terrible carnage and destruction behind them. They took a bad situation and handled it in the worst way. Jacob’s words speak about our associations and when to stay away from relationships that can hurt us.
There is the description of a mean-spirited person.
A mean-spirited person is someone who has a serious anger problem. He is spiteful of people, especially those in authority. He is vindictive and filled with wrath. He is cutting in his words and spirit. His spirit is one that is volatile and explosive. He is self-willed and has zero respect for authority. Jacob described these two sons as being cruel and fierce. This kind of person lacks sympathy and concern. He is hurtful in his words and actions. He is someone who always believes that he is wronged by other people and that anything done accidentally to him was purposed and deserving of retaliation. Jacob said that instruments of cruelty are in mean-spirited people’s habitation. They are thinking of, plotting, and devising ways to hurt and take advantage of the people they despise.
There is the destruction of a mean-spirited person.
Jacob said, “For in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.” Mean-spirited people are highly destructive. They destroy friendships and relationships. They destroy reputations and goodwill. They tear down other people’s good efforts. They tear down the hedges in other people’s lives. They do not care who they take down and how they do it. They break up marriages, families, friendships, and churches. They are destructive behind the backs of others. They murmur, complain, and spread evil gossip. Anyone who is around them will morph into them. A mean-spirited and angry person is destructive.
There is the departure from the mean-spirited person.
Jacob knew that there was only one remedy for the sake of his own spirit and that of the other family members. He said, “O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united.” Jacob was saying what Solomon said in Proverbs 22:24: “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.” He was saying, “Stay away!” Do not comingle your honor, your good spirit, and your peaceful disposition with mean-spirited, angry people. The truth being expostulated is this: you can’t change them, but they can change you! Don’t ruin your reputation and a good spirit by having anything to do with a mean-spirited, vindictive person. Stay away from this kind of person!
There is the demise of a mean-spirited person.
Jacob sadly describes the end result of his two out-of-control sons. First, he said, “Cursed be their anger.” God will judge them in His way and in His timing. Second, he said, “I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” He would not allow them to have influence around the rest of his family. He took a stand and made it clear that they did not have a part in family matters of any kind. His separation from them meant they were removed from fellowship with Jacob and the rest of the family. These two sons had no blessing from their father. This is harsh and sad, but for the sake of the safety of everyone else, this was needful.
Don’t be a victim of an angry and mean-spirited person. Be discerning and stay away from anyone whose disposition will tear out your joy in the Lord, love for His church, and peaceful, thriving relationships.
Have a discerning God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Revelation 13-16