Proverbs 12:25, Words that Heal!

June 20, Proverbs 12:25

Luke 4:14-30; 2 Cor. 1:3-4 “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees” (Isa. 35:3).

Words that Heal!

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop, but a good word maketh it glad. This is the positive side of our proverb.

2. Encouragement: Where can I find this good word? Look around and there is a babel of voices. “Words are very like the wind; faithful friend tis hard to find.” Look within oneself, and it leads nowhere! Where then shall we look? We must go to the Word of God and by faith receive it from the Lord Jesus, the Friend of sinners (Luke 13:12).

a. The Cure: A good word from God, when applied by faith, can make the wounded spirit whole (Jer. 30:17). God is the great healer! David found it so (Ps. 119:92). He said of God: No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly (Ps. 84:11). “Precious indeed is the provision to strengthen the weak hands with ‘a good word of God’; to take the chair by the mourner’s side” (Bridges). “Give me a comrade who will weep with me; one who will laugh I can easily find” (Syrian proverb). “A word of kindness grief’s keen smart can heal.”

b. The Challenge: Yes, David knew the secret, for in his greatest trials, He encouraged himself in the Lord his God (1 Sam. 30:6). Remember the crooked woman, bound by Satan 18 years, bent by disease, but blessed by Christ, and then, she brought glory to God (Luke 13:11-17). To the palsied man, Jesus said: Be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. He imparted healing words, the encouragement of pardon (Mt. 9:2). To His frightened disciples on the storm-tossed sea (Mt. 14:27) He said: Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. He spoke healing words, the encouragement of peace. To those same disciples in the Upper Room, now filled with gloom and doom, He whispered: Let not your heart be troubled, and then again: Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (Jn. 14:1; 16:33). He prayed those healing words, the encouragement of power.

c. The Cheer: The famous Dr. R. W. Dale, of Birmingham, tells how he was once in a low state of heart. As he was passing through a street, a plainly dressed stranger, laden with parcels, stopped and said, “God bless you, Dr. Dale!” Her face was unknown to him, and he answered, “Thank you. What is your name?” “Never mind my name,” was the response, but if you only knew how you have made me feel hundreds of times, and what a happy home you have given me! God bless you!” Then she was lost in the crowd, but she had spoken those healing words and encouraged a heavy-hearted, stooping preacher.

For Thought and Prayer:

“Take courage way-worn pilgrim, tho’ mists and shadows hide
The face of Him thou lovest; He’s ever at thy side;
Reach out thy hand and find Him, and lo, the clouds have flown;
He smiles on thee, who promised never to leave thee alone.”