Speech Is an Awesome Gift from God (Studies in Proverbs)

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.”  An 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 not 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 another end not 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 2:17018 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

               

Human Speech (Studies in Proverbs)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/27/2013 1:52 PM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  Human Speech

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Proverbs

            Message of the verses:  I have mentioned in earlier SD’s that I follow the commentaries or “Be” books of Dr. Warren Wiersbe because his commentaries are easy to read but the give a person much information that can be used in their lives.  Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary on Proverbs is different than his other commentaries that I have read so far, different because the others went in a verse by verse, section by section of the book which is the way that his commentary on Proverbs began.  However after Proverbs chapter nine his commentary became more of a topical type of commentary which is what we have been dealing with.  I can truly understand why the study of Proverbs after chapter nine is better done in a topical way because there are verses that are in it that do not seem to go tighter and so you have to take many of the verses that speak of a certain subject and put them together which is what we are doing now.  We are looking at information from the ninth chapter of Wiersbe’s book in which he entitles “A Matter of Life and Death (Human Speech).” 

            Here is a quotation from the last paragraph of Dr. Wiersbe’s introduction to this chapter:  “When you summarize what Proverbs teaches about human speech, you end up with four important propositions:  (1) speech is an awesome gift from God; (2) speech can be used to do good; (3) speech can be used to do evil; and (4) only God can help us use speech to do good.”

            Solomon writes the following in Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”  Think about how the tongue can give life or produce death.  A judge can sentence a person to death simply by speaking.  A gossip can get on their phone and tarnish the reputation of a person just by speaking.  It is said that for every word that is written in Hitler’s book Mein Kampf that 125 people died in world war two.  The NT writer James has much to say about the tongue in James 3:5-8, “5  So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7  For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8  But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.”

            We will get into the first point from Proverbs and Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary on the fact that speech is an awesome gift from God in the next SD.  Here is something to think about until then:  When we look around at all of God’s creation we only see mankind with the ability to speak and that fact alone should make people realize that we were created by an all knowing, all powerful, all wise God.  To realize this fact is good, but to realize that the creator of this world became a man and taught on this earth that He made for three years and then died on a cruel cross so that those who realize that He did it for them and who realize the need for someone to take their place on the cross to pay for their sins is so much better yet.  If you have not done this then realize that you were born a sinner and that is why you sin, realize that your sin separates you from a Holy God.  Realize that Jesus Christ loves you enough to come to earth to take your place on the cross so that you can one day be with Him forever in heaven by accepting the payment that He paid for you on the cross.  The words that I tell you have life for this is what the Bible teaches.

2/27/2013 2:24 PM  

Friends & Neighbors PT-2 (Studies in Proverbs)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/26/2013 8:23 AM

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Friends & Neighbors PT-2

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Proverbs

            Message of the verses:  We have been looking at what the book of Proverbs has to say about friends and neighbors, and in particular we have been looking at the quality of true friendship.  We will try and finish this section in today’s Spiritual Diary.

            The quality of true friendship PT-2:  The first quality that we will look at this morning is the ability to control the tongue.  “With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered (Pr. 11:9).”  One way to remember to control the tongue is to have the ability to remember that we are not always to believe the first thing that we hear about a matter:  “The first speech in a court case is always convincing—until the cross-examination starts! (Pr. 18:17 The Message).”  “A man of understanding holds his tongue (Pr. 11:12b).”   If you realize that your neighbor is telling lies about you, then you must confront him but you are not to avenge those lies by lying yourself about him.  “28 ¶  Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips. 29  Do not say, "Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work’ (Pr. 24:28-29).”  We are also to beware of people who cause you trouble and then say to you that “I was only joking.”  “18 ¶  People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, "I didn’t mean it, I was only joking," 19  Are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires (Pr.26:18-19 The Message).”

            Next:  Friends and neighbors must be loving honest with one another.  “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy (Pr. 27:6).”  As believers we cannot build a friendship on lies for we must tell the truth, and do it in a loving way, even if the truth will hurt.  “But we are meant to speak the truth in love, and to grow up in every way into Christ, the head (Eph. 4:15 Philips).”  We know that the Spirit of God can use the truth when we speak it, but Satan uses lies and flattery to tear down relationships, “He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue (Pr. 28:3).”

            Don’t take advantage of a friend by thinking that they will immediately forgive our offences even though it is the right thing to do as a believer.  “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel (Pr. 18:19).”  Dr. Wiersbe writes “It’s strange but true that some of God’s people will forgive offenses from unbelievers that they would never forgive if a Christian friend committed them.  It takes a diamond to cut a diamond, and some Christians have a way of putting up defenses that even the church can’t break through.  Matthew 18:15-35 give us the steps to take when such things happen, and our Lord warns us that an unforgiving spirit only puts us into prison!”  2/26/2013 9:19 AM

            2/26/2013 1:16 PM

            Faithful friends and neighbors counsel and encourage each other:  I would suppose that this is a good place to say that the reason that I had to stop and start this SD was because that I was getting some counsel from our Pastor and so it kind of fits right into the conclusion of this Spiritual Diary.  “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend Proverbs 27:9).”  This probably speaks of when times when the subject of the counseling is without any problems or strife, but when there is trouble we can look at Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”  Again we must follow Ephesians 4;15b, “speaking the truth in love.”

            Friends and neighbors must exercise tact and be sensitive to each other’s feelings:  We cannot spend too much time with each other as far as friends and relatives are concerned or we will wear out our welcome:  “Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, Or he will become weary of you and hate you.”  Friendship can be like trees, if we plant them to close together we will have a problem with their growth, and if we are to grow as a believer we need some space.  Dr. Wiersbe writes “Even husbands and wives must respect each other’s privacy and not be constantly together if their love is to mature.”

            “He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him (Pr. 27:14).”  We have to beware of our friends who just continually say good things about us even to the point that they wake us up early to talk to us.  Dr. Wiersbe writes “Love is sensitive to other people’s feelings and needs, and true friends try to say the right things at the right time in the right way.”  “Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart Pr. 25:20).” 

            Dr. Wiersbe concludes “A happy family, encouraging friends and good neighbors:  What blessings these are from the Lord!  Let’s be sure we do our part to make these blessings a reality in our lives and the lives of others.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that it is so wonderful that the Bible has such wisdom for situations like this, for it teaches us the right way to treat other people and how to make good friends and how to keep them and encourage them.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Follow the things that I have learned from this subject and also from the counseling that I have received today from our Pastor.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 32:1-4

            1 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:  “You are in His hands, and He is Lord.”  (David Jeremiah)  “Your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”  (Psalm 139:10)

2/26/2013 1:40 PM

           

Friends & Family PT-1 (Studies in Proverbs)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/25/2013 9:51 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  Friends & Neighbors

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Proverbs

            Message of the verses:  We will begin in today’s SD looking at what Proverbs has to say about friends and family.  I am not sure how far we will get on this subject so perhaps it will take more than one day to finish it.

            In Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary on this subject he states that the Hebrew word for friend and neighbor are the same word (ra’a).  “In this survey, we’ll include both meanings; for what’s true of friends ought to be true of neighbors.”

            The basis for friendship:  We need to first look at Proverbs 17:17 to show that the most important ingredient for friendship is love:  “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  As we go through life we will find out that it is possible to have many companions but not have any true friends, and I would say that this is not good:  “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”  I suppose that I have misunderstood this verse for a long time, for I thought that Solomon was speaking of the Lord who sticks closer than a brother but perhaps he was speaking of a good friend, a friend that has taken a long time to cultivate a friendship with.  Friendship takes a long time to grow and its roots must go down deep.

            As believers we must be careful when making friends:  A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray (Pr. 17:26).”  “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm (Pr. 13:20).”  When we base our friendship on money we are going to be greatly disappointed, or if they are based on sin they will even be more disappointing:  “A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbor’s mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good Pr. 16:29 BBE).”   Having a friend with a bad temper is not good either: “24 ¶  Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man, 25  Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself Pr. 22:24-25).”  Friends with foolish people is not good either: “Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips (Pr. 14:7),” or those who rebel against authority, “21 ¶  My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those who are given to change, 22  For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them? (Pr. 24:21-22)  Don’t make friends with the dishonest “An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked (Pr. 29:27).” 

            Here are some other verses that are good for believers to follow when making friends:  “1 ¶  How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).”  “14  Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15  Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16  Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 17  "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 18  "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty (2 Cor. 6:14-18).”

            The Qualities of True Friendship:  We have already mentioned the first and probably the best ingredient of true friendship and that is love as seen in Proverbs 17:17a, “A friend loves at all times.”  We may find that during a time of crisis that our friends help us more than our family does, however this friendship must be shown to our parents and other family members too.  It is possible that some of our family are not believers and when times of trouble comes to them we will be able to show the love of Jesus to them, which will also be a good witness.  I know that when my mom passed onto glory that I was blessed to have the support of both my friends and also my family and that was a wonderful experience. 

            Another thing we must respect and have with our friends is keeping things confidential:  “9  Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another, 10  Or he who hears it will reproach you, And the evil report about you will not pass away Pr. 25:9-10).”  Here is some more advice from Solomon on this subject:  “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter Pr.11:13).”  Gossip can ruin a friendship, “A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends (Pr. 16:28).” 

            We will pick up on the rest of these qualities in the nest Spiritual Diary.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I has been very good to go over these qualities of having a good friend and even has given conviction to my heart.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Do something about what has convicted me.

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 as with the fever heat of summer.  Selah.

 Turning Points Wisdom for Today:  “Wisdom is development wisdom is discipline wisdom is discernment wisdom is dignity wisdom is discretion wisdom is depth of understanding wisdom is devotion to God.  (David Jeremiah)  “When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you.”  (Psalm 2:10-11)

2/25/2013 10:41 AM