January 26, 2015 THE MOUTH OF THE RIGHTEOUS The mouth (with its components, the lips and the tongue) is the most important organ in the book of Proverbs. In the New King James Version of the book, the word mouth is used 50 times, lips occurs 41 times, and tongue 19. The use of this organ in speech is a particularly important theme in Proverbs 10–29. The basic premise is crucial: our words are very powerful, either for good or for evil. The tongue can be the best or the worst gift that we’ve been given. This ambivalence about the tongue is one of the most important lessons in Proverbs. Indeed, the mouth generates life, but it also may bring death. READ Proverbs 10:11–14. What is the contrast there between how the righteous person speaks and how the fool does? ____________________________________________________________ In Proverbs 10:11 notice the expression the well of life. It symbolically refers to qualities of wisdom. It is used in reference to the Lord (Ps. 36:9), the Source of life. The same image is used in relation to the sanctuary, from which the stream of water springs (Ezek. 47:1-2). Jesus uses this metaphor to illustrate the gift of the Spirit (John 4:14). So the comparison of the mouth of the righteous to a well of life amounts to relating it to God Himself. What characterizes this mouth is the positive gift of life. This quality tells us what the proper function of the mouth should be. It should be a force for good, not evil, a source of life, not death. What is being said here is seen also in James 3:2–12. Remember, too, that it was through speech, through the word of His power (Heb. 1:3, NKJV), that God created the heavens and the earth. Speech, therefore, should serve only creative purposes.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 01:02:54 +0000
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