Title
The Violent Man
Scripture
A violent man entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good. He winks his eye to devise perverse things; he purses his lips and brings about evil.
(Proverbs 16:29-30)
Devotional
What an unusual word picture of a violent man: he leads, he winks and puckers his lips. We on the other hand, most likely picture the violent man as always raging, yelling and cursing, but not so. The violent are first of all is driven by wickedness. Their intent is to do evil. They will inevitably use deception. They may appear neighborly, but their flatteries are nothing but a means to disarm wise caution. No matter how good they sound, their purpose is to bring about your demise. The violent man, like the fool, "Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace."[1] The fruit of the violent is always the same: contentions, discord, chaos and division. Violence is what drives the violent man. It is not a means to an end; it is his purpose. Learn to recognize the violent. Though they may succeed in their methods, avoid them and their ways.
[1] Proverbs 29:9