Lesson 9: Wisdom and Speech
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power
of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
First Wise Use of the Tongue
Proverbs 25:11-12 A word
fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of
gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Proverbs 10:31a The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom:
Proverbs 15:7 The lips of
the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and
perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty
counsel.
In reading these verses
what is the first wise use of our speech?
In giving good counsel and encouraging
with our words.
Second Wise Use of the Tongue
Proverbs 17:10 A reproof
entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are
the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Psalms 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a
kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, …
Revelation 3:19 As many as
I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
What is painful but
necessary way the wise must use their tongue?
To rebuke and reprove, to
correct even if it causes pain. Even the Lord rebukes us for our good.
Third Wise Use of the Tongue
Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome
tongue is a tree of life:
Proverbs 15:23 A man hath
joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is
it!
Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant
words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
What is this great power of
the tongue?
To be an encourager. To
lift up others, when they are down and to be a blessing to those who are hurt.
Fourth Wise Use of the Tongue
Proverbs 10:20-21 The
tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little
worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of
the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth (captures, influences,
wins) souls (by his fruit) is wise.
Proverbs 18:4 The words of
a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing
brook.
What is the perhaps the
most powerful use of the tongue in these verses?
To be the source of the
truth. To tell others of eternal life
and everlasting water. We can be
witnesses of God love and teachers of His truth.
Fifth Wise Use of the Tongue
Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool,
when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his
lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Job 13:5 O that ye would
altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
Sometimes what is the
wisest thing a person can do when it comes to our speech?
Don’t, just don’t say
anything.
Foolish, Sinful Use of Speech
Psalms 141:3 Set a watch, O
LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
First Use of a Fool’s Tongue
Proverbs 20:17 Bread of
deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with
gravel.
Proverbs 26:24 He that
hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Proverbs 26:28 A lying
tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth
worketh ruin.
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are
the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 28:23 He that rebuketh
a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the
tongue.
What is the first way a
fool uses his tongue?
The immoral man speaks
in order to flatter and deceive others.
But what is wrong with
flattery? Isn’t is a kind of praise?
Not in this case. Here it
is a false praise and its true purpose is selfish, self-serving and meant to
deceive.
Second Use of a Fools Tongue
Proverbs 10:18 He that
hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is
a fool.
Proverbs 16:28 A froward
man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Proverbs 17:9 He that
covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter
separateth very friends.
Proverbs 20:19 He that
goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with
him that flattereth with his lips.
What is the second way a
fool uses his speech or tongue?
They use words that are gossip
and slander in order to hurt others or break friendships and relationships.
How can you know if its gossip
or if it is trying to help? Ask yourself these questions, if any are answered
no then is it gossip.
First, have you personally spoken
to the person you are talking about? Secondly, is the person you are speaking
to about someone else, be able to help them?
Finally, have you talked with the Lord before talking about someone
else?
Third Use of a Fools Tongue
Proverbs 18:6 A fool’s lips
enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
Proverbs 29:22 An angry man
stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
Proverbs 22:24 Make no
friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
How do these verses tell us
we can recognize a fool?
By the way they talk. The
person who uses his words to cause anger or stir up strife is by the Bible’s
definition a sinful, fool.
What is the danger of forming
relationships with those who are always angry or causing problems in other
people’s lives.
We can learn their ways,
begin to imitate them, then we will hurt others and also harm our own
relationship with God.
Fourth Use of a Fool’s Tongue
Proverbs 27:2 Let another
man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Proverbs 25:27 It is not
good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we
dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that
commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing
themselves among themselves, are not wise.
What kind of speech is
condemned in these verses?
Too much talk about
one’s self, too much bragging or glorying about yourself, your accomplishments,
your talents, your abilities.
If bragging or praise is due
who should give that praise?
Someone other than
yourself
Proverbs 31:28-31 Her
children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he
praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest
them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but
a woman that feareth the LORD,
she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own
works praise her in the gates.
Fifth Use of a Fool’s Tongue
Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome
tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in
the spirit.
Proverbs 12:18 There is
that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is
health.
Name a type of speech
popular today this is perverse and cuts like a sword?
Profanity, vulgarity,
cursing or as they say in Texas, cussing.
How can we fight profanity
in our society today?
First, of course, do not
use it. Secondly refuse to tolerate it in your presence and Thirdly do not let
yourself become acclimated to it.
Is there a danger in being
around those who curse other than being offended?
Yes, it is very easy to
begin using and thinking in vulgar and profane ways.
Sixth Use of a Fool’s Tongue
Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an
abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed
innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be
swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies,
and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 14:25 A true
witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
What kind of foolish,
sinful speech is condemned in these proverbs?
Lying, bearing false
witness, misleading others by untruths.
What should the realization
that lying is found twice in the things that are abominations to God tell us?
By listing it twice is
tells us that God despises lies, lying and liars.
Seventh Foolish Use of the Tongue
Proverbs 17:5 Whoso mocketh
the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall
not be unpunished.
Proverbs 24:17-18 Rejoice
not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he
stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his
wrath from him.
What manner of speech is
God condemning in these verses?
Mocking others because of their
poverty, circumstances or mishaps. If I can only raise myself up by putting
others down, then I have completely misunderstood what wisdom is and how God
works in human affairs.
Eighth Foolish Use of the Tongue
Proverbs 18:13 He that
answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame
unto him.
Proverbs 29:11 A fool
uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Put this proverb in modern
English. What is the fool doing with his speech?
Don’t be stupid. Use your
ears and your brain before you use your mouth.
God gave us two ears but
only one mouth, so listen twice before speaking once.
Conclusion
I can add no greater
thought to conclude this lesson than those that we began with…
Death and life are in the
power of the tongue..
The gift of speech was
given to us by God, a gift not given to any of His other creatures. As with all
that God gave, sin when it came, brought a curse. Yet through redemption, if we
choose, God’s gift of encouraging, healing, uplifting, and correcting speech
can be restored. We need to fully appreciate the potential for good or evil
that is in our words and ask God to help us use our tongue for the good of all
those around us.
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