Proverbs 15:2, Users and Abusers of Words!

September 8, Proverbs 15:2

John 4:1-26 “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding” (Isa. 11:2).

Users and Abusers of Words!

How many calamities flow from the abuse of words? You have noted the frequent references to words or speech recurring in these proverbs. This emphasises the importance of words. In Pr. 12:23 and 13:16 the fool spouts off with nothing to say. The contrast is between the gentle stream flowing within its proper channels, the tongue of the wise, and the destruction caused by a raging flood that bursts its banks, out of control, like the mouth of fools! “The tongue shows the man. The wise commands his tongue. The fool – his tongue commands him” (Bridges).

1. The Tongue of the Wise Ponders: The tongue of the wise use knowledge aright. The wise speak carefully, but have always knowledge to share. They are wise because they use their knowledge aright; that is, they make good use of it by turning it to good account. They use it for edifying others, not for their own gratification. Actually, the words of the wise and foolish are often the same. The fault is not in the words, but in the use for which they are employed. That’s what makes the difference! The gentle tongue in 15:1, is here (15:2) the tongue of grace. The tongue of the wise use knowledge aright when they humbly and lovingly give good counsels for the benefit of others. They know the right times, the right persons, the right places, the right spirit for speaking. This was the typical approach of the great apostle in his preaching in Corinth (1 Cor. 3:2), in Athens (Acts 17:23), or before Agrippa (Acts 26:2-29). The tongue of the wise is seen supremely in our Lord Jesus, fulfilling the prophecy (Is. 42), a bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench (Matt. 12:20). He was gentle with the weak or stumbling, and “plucked the thorns out of the way of their tender feet” (Isa. 55:13; Heb. 12:13). As Paul learned from the Lord Jesus, so let Him also be our example of the tongue of the wise that ponders. Thus shall we become workmen that need not to be ashamed (2 Tm. 2:15).

2. The Mouth of the Fool Prattles: What a vivid word pours out is! The margin reads belches! This is not at all flattering, is it? It pictures the gushing up of a polluted fountain or spring. It is a very descriptive figure of how the mouth of fools mostly gushes folly. “Foolish tongues talk nineteen to the dozen,” for the less they have to carry, the faster they travel. Some fools may actually possess knowledge, but by its misuse they forfeit any real benefit to themselves or others it might otherwise possess. Usually, however, fools’ hearts are full of folly, and gush out words without meaning, or, more often, words with evil consequence, like idle gossip. We too readily think we must comment on every topic, when it would be better for all concerned if we kept our mouth shut, and yielded the floor to the tongue of the wise. Bridges gives Baal’s worshippers (1 Kgs. 18:26), Rabshakeh’s boasting (2 Kgs. 18:26-29), and the murmuring of the people of God (Nu. 14:2-10; 16:13) as examples of the fool’s polluted fountain.

Thought: “There is nothing more slippery or loose than the tongue.” (Calvin)

Prayer: Lord, help me to develop the tongue of the wise.