Meddle To Thy Hurt

“Meddle To Thy Hurt” - 2 Kings 14:10

The word “meddle” is used ten times in various forms throughout the AV1611. All ten are found in the Old Testament (“meddle,” “intermeddle,” “meddleth,” “meddled,” & “meddling”). It carries a definition of “unnecessarily interfering or taking part in affairs not belonging to you.”

Here, in 2 Kings 14, Amaziah, king of Judah, is meddling in the affairs of Jehoash, king of Israel. The warning by Jehoash is “why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?” Not taking heed to the warning or the admonition to “tarry at home,” Amaziah puts his nose where it didn’t belong and sure enough, “Judah was put to the worse before Israel.”

This should be a warning to all that unnecessarily meddle in affairs that don’t belong to you. It could put you “to the worse” before those you are meddling with. Paul calls them “busybodies” and Solomon warns six times about being a meddler.

In Proverbs 26:17, Solomon likens meddling with “strife belonging not to him” to that of taking a “dog by the ears.” If you’ve ever done that, as Solomon probably experienced firsthand, then you know it’s a sure way to get your hand bit.

The Lord warns who and when not to meddle and mingle with, and who and when we need to minister. The idea of counting to 10 before speaking up, spouting off, or stepping in, is still a good practice. Often meddling is a result of pride, as found in this account when repeated in 2 Chronicles 25:19 - “thine heart lifteth thee up to boast,” and pride in boasting is a sure way to hurt others and yourself.