SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 10
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The next chapters are collections of sayings, covering a variety of topics. Sometimes there are repeated themes, like today. The theme I picked up on was the emphasis on the mouth (chattering lips, tongue):
- Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. [Proverbs 10:6]
- The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. [Proverbs 10:8]
- He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin. [Proverbs 10:10]
- The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. [Proverbs 10:11]
- Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment. [Proverbs 10:13]
- Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. [Proverbs 10:14]
- He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. [Proverbs 10:18]
- When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. [Proverbs 10:19]
- The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. [Proverbs 10:20]
- The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment. [Proverbs 10:21]
- The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. [Proverbs 10:31]
- The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. [Proverbs 10:32]
Is there a message here? Jesus points out that the mouth is a good indicator of the heart. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. [Matthew 12:34-35] We learn a lot about people by what they say, or don’t say, or how they speak. He goes on to say that we will be judged by our mouths: But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. [Matthew 12:36-37] If the mouth reveals the heart, what does my mouth say about my heart?
PRAYER:
Lord, me and my big mouth – help me renew the overflow of my heart.
Father, may my mouth be an instrument of praise. May You empower me to use my mouth only for Your good and perfect purposes. Forgive me for the times when I have misused my mouth, when I have spoken things that did not glorify You, that did not edify You and others. LORD, each day when I get up, may I put a guard on my mouth by surrendering it to You….
There is a Irish proverb I am reminded of with the passage of today . . . Everyone is wise, until he speaks. In other words, the words I speak reveal my inner being or my heart’s desire. There is a saying that I use often with the children and that is ‘Bite your tongue.’ All too often I speak before putting my mind in gear. Watch the words you speak so that I may speak the very words of Christ since I am Christian by name shown by all what I do and say.
There is also a title of a book by Ortberg, ‘Everyone’s Normal Until You Get To Know Them.’ And How do I get to know others? How do they get to know me? By what I say and do.
Lord, may the words I speak show whose I am. Lord, may the actions that I do show whose I am. Help me in my daily walk living for Jesus by my knowing/loving/doing. Help me to bring joy to my father/Father.
Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.