20-21 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarrelling ceases. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. 24-26 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbours deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are  seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. 28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. Proverbs 26:20-28 English Standard Version

It seems that some people just love mischief and making trouble for others. The writer of Proverbs refers to such people as 'whisperers'. That's a good description as it carries with it the idea of spreading gossip and lies in secret. Verses 20-21 give a good picture for this sort of activity when they speak of fuel being added to a fire so that it keeps burning fiercely. When there are no people spreading gossips and lies arguments die out. But what is the sad thing about gossips and lies that make them so easy to spread? (vs 22)

It's a sorry reflection of our sinful human nature that we can be attracted to gossip of things done in secret. It may be no coincidence that the news media often focusses on bad news. Could it be that people enjoy hearing about the faults and failures of others more than their good deeds and successes? Christians are not immune from this sad condition. We should make every effort to not listen to whisperers who are spreading things about other people. What is the important lesson about mischief makers in verse 23?

They use words in a way that covers the real intentions of their heart. They pretend to be saying something good about someone else, but then casually bring out some shocking snippet of information. They'll often say something like 'Isn't it a pity about so-an-so's previous job, or childhood?', or words to that effect. Look again at the description verses 24-26 give of such people. What a sad state to be in when there are 'seven abominations' in one's heart! It speaks of a heart filled with corruption and malice. The sadder thing in all of this is that this heart condition is so common in the world. It's the cause of so much division in society and riots in the street. The lies are further spread by politicians and news media.

What are lessons that Christians can take from this? I'd say firstly, that we must not be gullible and believe all that we hear. Knowing that people lie so easily the writer says “believe him not.” Don't take every rumour on board, and certainly don't spread it. Secondly, he says “though the whisperer's hatred is covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.” Truth will eventually come out and whisperers will be seen for what they are. That's why he adds “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.” (vs 27) The Bible teaches that we will eventually reap what we have sown.

Verse 28 sums up these things. “A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” Spreading lies or gossip about others isn't a light matter. Nor is buttering people up so as to exploit them. These things are an expression of hate. The Bible says to believers: “Owe nothing to anyone, except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbour, you'll fulfil the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, 'You mustn't commit adultery, you mustn't murder, you mustn't steal and you mustn't covet'. These, and other such commandments, are summed up in this one commandment: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfils the requirements of God’s law.” (Romans 13:8-10)