Some things even a dog won't eat

The Bible tells the story in the book of I Kings about a wicked King and Queen named Jezebel. Jezebel was so wicked that her name has come to be used for a wicked woman, a witch, or even a prostitute. Yesterday, as my pastor was preaching, I realized something about her story that I have never thought of before.

At one point a prophet came and prophesied against Jezebel that the dogs would eat her up. This prophecy came to pass in II Kings chapter nine when king Jehu commanded Jezebel to be thrown from a window. Later when some men returned to bury her they found only her skull and her feet and the palms of her hands. The rest had been eaten by dogs in the time it took for King Jehu to eat lunch. When Pastor mention this a thought immediately came to mind: "some things even a dog won't eat".

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 6 that the Lord hates hands that shed innocent blood and feet that are swift in running to mischief. Jezebel's hands and feet were so polluted with the blood of Godly people she had killed that even the dogs knew not to eat them.

Can I tell you that it is the same with us when we are quick to spread gossip about people. Proverbs 18:21 says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. Most of us would never think of taking another person's life but we can quick to pass judgment or spread gossip before we know the full situation. There is nothing that can destroy a workplace, a family, or even a church like  "a piece of good, old-fashioned juicy" gossip. When we repeat things that we have heard we destroy another person's reputation.

I will admit that I have probably been the most guilty of all about such things. Yet I get mad when I learn that people have been talking about me in a negative light. I must be fair. What I give is what I'll get so I want to watch what I say. I don't want to be guilty of murdering another person's character. If the time should ever come when I am found dead in a field I don't want any one thinking of me that "not even a dog would eat his hands and feet."

Thoughtfully,

Sullivan Jones