SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
2/28/2013 9:19 PM
My Worship Time Focus:
Speech Is an Awesome Gift from God
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Proverbs
Message of the
verses: We looked at the
introduction to the ninth chapter from Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on the book
of Proverbs which is entitled “A Matter of Life or Death (Human Speech). In today’s SD we will look at the fact that
speech is a gift of God so that we can communicate with Him, but most of all so
that He can communicate with us.
Professor Steven Pinker states “The ability [to speak]
comes so naturally that we are apt to forget what a miracle it is. Language is not a cultural artifact that we
learn to tell time of how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of the
biological makeup of our brains.” And I
suppose that we need to remember that it was God who designed us and therefore
made our brains to enable us to speak.
After creating Adam God communicated with him, and so when Eve was
created Adam was able to communicate with her through speech. I have to agree whole-heartily with Professor
Pinker that speech does come naturally and therefore we tend to take it for
granted and do not praise the Lord for our ability to be able to speak.
Proverbs 16:1 states, “The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of
the tongue is from the LORD.”
We will now look at some different images that the book
of Proverbs gives us for human speech.
First we will look at speech as compared to jewels, and gold and
silver. Proverbs 10:20 “The tongue of
the righteous is as choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little.” Here we see that the wise person uses his
speech for good use, while the wicked uses it for different reasons. Now we will look at Proverbs 25:11-12, “11 Like
apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances. 12
Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise reprover to a
listening ear.” Balancing our words so
that they can be like gold or silver is the way we should use them. “9 In addition to being a wise man, the
Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and
arranged many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth
correctly. 11 The words of
wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like
well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd (Eccl. 12:9-11).”
Next we look at words being like refreshing water: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the
mouth of the wicked conceals violence (Pr. 10:11).” Next Proverbs 18:4, “The words of a man’s
mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.” When we go to church and the Pastor speaks
wonderful words from his sermon then it is like taking a good drink from a
refreshing well. “The fear of the LORD
is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death (Pr. 14:27
NKJV).” We must listen and really hear
when the wise speak to us, “Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has
it, But the discipline of fools is folly (Pr. 16:22).” I have been praying for the salvation of my
oldest daughter for many years and one of the things that I pray for is that
the soil of her heart will be prepared to hear and accept the gospel.
Next we look at right words being like nourishing,
health-giving food. “A soothing tongue
is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit (Pr.15:4).” It is wonderful to be able to say the right
words to someone who is down and in need of hearing some encouraging words that
will enable them to get over the problem that they are facing. I want to quote an endnote that speaks of the
“tree of life.” “According to Genesis
3:1-7, Satan tempted Eve to eat of the forbidden tree so she would become like
God, ‘knowing good and evil.’ But it
isn’t necessary to disobey God to develop discernment; His divine wisdom
instructs us concerning good and evil, and is our ‘tree of life’ (see Proverbs
3:18).” “She is a tree of life to those
who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.” Now let us look at Proverbs 10:21, “The lips
of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of understanding.”
Now Proverbs 16:24, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul
and healing to the bones.” Now Proverbs
12:18 “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the
tongue of the wise brings
healing.”
Now I want to quote on something that the Apostle Paul
spoke of when he wrote to Timothy about “healthy doctrine or sound
doctrine.” “The Greek word translated
‘sound’ (hugiaino) gives us the
English word ‘hygiene,’ and means, ‘to be sound in health.” We can then say that sound doctrine is
healthy doctrine which will nourish us spiritually and even sometimes will help
us in our health. Paul writes to Timothy
in the last letter that he penned stating that in the end days people will not
endure healthy doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3).
Paul writes of those who belong to the cults “17 For their teachings are
as dangerous as blood-poisoning to the body, and spread like sepsis from a
wound. Hymenaeus and Philetus are responsible for this sort of thing, and
18 they are men who are palpable
traitors to the truth, for they say that the resurrection has already happened
and, of course, badly upset some people’s faith (2Timothy 2:17-18 Phillips).”
Dr. Wiersbe concludes with the following words, “The
Christian who recognizes how awesome is the gift of speech will not abuse that
gift but will dedicate it to the glory of God.
The New Testament scholar Bishop B. F. Westcott wrote, ‘Every year makes me tremble at
the daring with which people speak of spiritual things.’ We all need to heed the words of Solomon: ‘Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not
your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few’
(Eccl. 5:2 NKJV).”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I have to say that the words that Solomon
writes in Eccl. 5:2 have to be what I desire to obey, and not just today.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Heed the words of Solomon.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 32:1-4
1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is
the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is
no deceit! 3 When I kept silent about my
sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon
me; my vitality was drained away like the fever heat of summer. Selah.
Turning Points Wisdom for
Today: “There is no pit so deep that God
is not deeper still.” (Corrie Ten
Boom). “These things I have spoken to
you, that in Me you may have peace. In
this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the
World.” (John 16:33)
2/28/2013 10:07 PM
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