Seven of Swords
Buyer beware! While some cultures and contexts discourage the dishonest merchant, some others may admire and reward the crafty seller or confidence artist.
Some say that all is fair in love and war, and the young man pictured on this card certainly seems delighted in his spy game or tricky business.
Yet we must always be on our guard against deception, and in fact we sometimes fool ourselves with powerful delusions and self-deception.
We should take captive every high and lofty thought to the obedience of Christ. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against mind games of the air and principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
Deception and trickery can be the enemy of our souls as when the serpent, more crafty than any of the creatures in the beginning, led the people of paradise astray: "Did God say you may not eat of any tree?" and "You will not really die, but your eyes will be opened."
We should not follow cleverly-devised tales and myths but rather ask, seek, and knock until we see the truth.
Do not use unequal measures! Do not deceive one another!
Be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.
As Sir Walter Scott writes, "What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!"
Some say that all is fair in love and war, and the young man pictured on this card certainly seems delighted in his spy game or tricky business.
Yet we must always be on our guard against deception, and in fact we sometimes fool ourselves with powerful delusions and self-deception.
We should take captive every high and lofty thought to the obedience of Christ. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against mind games of the air and principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
Deception and trickery can be the enemy of our souls as when the serpent, more crafty than any of the creatures in the beginning, led the people of paradise astray: "Did God say you may not eat of any tree?" and "You will not really die, but your eyes will be opened."
We should not follow cleverly-devised tales and myths but rather ask, seek, and knock until we see the truth.
Do not use unequal measures! Do not deceive one another!
Be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.
As Sir Walter Scott writes, "What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!"
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