Proverbs 26:18-19
Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
Stealing the Mind
Deception is stealing the mind. The deceiver has not physically stolen anything, but a crime has happened. When you are deceived, you were vulnerable to the person who deceived you. The verse is teaching us that once a person is deceived, there is no limit to what a deceiver can do to them. Flames burn the clothing or skin. Arrows penetrate the skin into the body. And death, of course, is the worst of the three. The effects of deception are long-lasting and damaging beyond. One who has been deceived is completely vulnerable. Once they realize that they have been manipulated, they were susceptible to any number of attacks. But the deceiver always retains the ability to stop at any point and walk away claiming they have done nothing wrong. The damage is done. Emotional scars can remain. Be careful not to participate in jokes that come at someone else’s expense.Build people up, not make them feel more vulnerable.
