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FLATTERY DIVIDES THE SOUL |
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Flattery takes root through lies or exaggerations. The flatterer lacks truth and sincerity, he or she is snared by the transgression of their lips, and they seek to ensnare others. Praise is righteous and appropriate to give, but excessive or insincere praise is flattery and destructive to the soul. We either painstakingly avoid the hazards of flattery, or risk being ensnared by the person who flatters.
Hebrew words for "flattering" or flattery"
A flatterer likes to tell people what they want to hear, like putting hooks into the weak areas of the soul to pull them in the direction they desire. Popular terms, people, names, "buzz phrases", clichés, special interests or needs can be used by the flatterer to entice his or her victim. The flatterer knows the terms and values which are held in high esteem by the potential victim and pretends to be entrusted with these same values, but some unwittingly make themselves targets for the flatterer. The flatterer also thinks very highly of himself, he fantasizes and flatters himself but pride will bring him very low.
Certainly, we all appreciate attractive clothes, refinement, nice fashion, intelligence, sophistication, talent and wealth, it is stimulating to converse with those well traveled, those who have experienced "life to the fullest". Certainly, all these things YHWH has given us to enjoy, His Blessings are certainly manifold, but we are meant to enjoy all these things in community within the values and governance of the Mashiyach and through the Wisdom of Torah. If a person praises us for anything that we cannot be thankful for from YHWH, then it is flattery not praise. Praise is done in righteousness and is acknowledgement by others for taking righteous action.
Indulging oneself in extravagance is a form of self-flattery. YHWH is the most extravagant of all Givers, He has demonstrated His extravagant love towards us by choosing Mashiyach to suffer for us. For souls to acknowledge what He has done and then use it to justify acquiring material blessings is flattery of the flesh. We can easily believe that YHWH wants to give us all the desires of our heart if we look at the price He paid for our Redemption. He has most certainly blessed us by providing for our salvation, but one could easily flatter oneself or be flattered by someone by using what He has done to pursue "material abundance". The desires of our hearts must be measured according to His Word, Teachings and Promises. One example of those using the "authority of the Word" to reach their desires is the indiscriminate use of "the prayer of Yahbetz (Jabez)".
By overemphasizing the desire for individual blessings and stretching the Word of YHWH to suit these desires it's easy to become entrapped by flattery. Many stumble by thinking that YHWH has not fulfilled all the desires of their hearts, they blame YHWH for not being their big "sugar daddy". Some begin to think YHWH doesn't love them, that He doesn't care or even exist otherwise they would be given more, they see that even those who don't profess to live according to the Faith seem to get what all their desires. A flattering spirit says, if you are a good Jew, Netzarim, Believer or a Christian then you should receive much more.
On a community level we recognize the importance of designated offices for our leaders and we utilize titles such as, Doctor, Minister, Counselor, Pastor, Worship Leader, Rabbi, Board Member, Chairman, President, Mayor etc. to describe the office and/or qualifications. These offices carry the respect of the community and are necessary to provide order, structure and facilitate leadership. Those who hold positions in leadership are instrumental for developing the values and personality of the community, they represent their community to the outside world. However there is also a potential for those with influential leadership positions to become "self-important" and flatter themselves or become targets for flattery.
Job prays that he not "lift up, bear, carry, take, regard any man's person", or give "flattering titles unto man", Job is talking about not stroking the prideful flesh. He is not speaking against the office or titles of men because YHWH appointed the titles of Cohanim, Neviim, Leviim and Melekim for the purpose of distinguishing them for positions and responsibilities. The adversary of YHWH directs much of his work towards YHWH's appointed leaders to tempt them into being flattered or flattering themselves.
Those who take positions in leadership become targets for the flatterers, the Mashiyach Himself had to deal with this.
Those who "preach" to suit their audience are what "men pleasers" or flatterers, but those who speak truth are not as concerned as how people might react as they are about being YHWH's Servants. When a leader becomes stifled by pressure from others and begins to tailor the teaching to accommodate, he becomes a follower, the Scripture refers to these men as "hirelings".
Nations can also be trapped into flattering themselves or being flattered by others:
Our fathers Abraham, Yitzak and Ya'akov exemplify those who were called and blessed of YHWH as Covenant Keepers. Clearly we see in these men a common thread of values far beyond the ordinary values of their day. First and foremost they had greatness of calling to Keep Covenant, and righteousness of character. David began as a shepherd boy, a commoner, not wealthy or famous, but David's greatness was that his Faith in YHWH superseded his own desires. David was preoccupied by sanctifying the Name of YHWH, he didn't appear to do much "risk analysis" before he went of to meet Goliath, he denied himself, he would rather have died than to continue hearing the enemies of Israel mock the Elohim of Israel. David's motive was pure, he was ordained of YHWH and chosen to have the victory, and so it is with us who are in the Household of Faith, the ultimate test of our desires is to weigh them in the Mashiyach. The Spirit of Mashiyach aims to accomplish Righteousness and Truth in the inward parts, when we compare our actions and desires to those of HaMashiyach we will recognize flattery for what it is, and not be entrapped by it. The desires to increase ourselves will transform into desires to increase the Kingdom of Elohim so we can live together as One Mishpocha (family) in YHWH.
We shall not give others the authority to flatter us, we shall not flatter others.
When someone flatters us, they are trying to divide us out for themselves, like when the lions divide a weaker animal out from the flock and then kill it. A flatterer aims to divide us from YHWH and His People, these are not concerned about YHWH's will for our lives is, or His will for their own lives, they want to accomplish their own agendas. Flattery is carnal thing that can never produce Holy fruit.
Many devastating experiences in private life or business will be avoided by refusing to allow flattery to have a foothold. Our children adopt the values they see in fathers and mothers, they must learn the dangers of flattery from a very young age or they will be vulnerable to many kinds of abuse.
Make distinctions between what is praise and what is flattery. Use the Authority of the Word to expose the dangers of flattery regardless of what scale it is on. Flattery is evidence of hasatan working to manipulate others, it's the language of the destroyer.
It is far easier to stop flattery before it gets a foothold.
"Open rebuke is better than secret love" Proverbs 27:5
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O YHWH, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Let all schmoozing be Sanctified in HaMashiyach and may our Conversation be Holy and without gossip or flattery.
Shalom U'Brechot, Baruch Ben Daniel |
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