THE WORDS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
VALUED WORDS
PROVERBS 10: 31-32
Words spring from the heart and are then formed by the mind. If the heart is pure, righteous speech should flow out of it. If the heart is wicked it also flows from the mouth. Yet even if the heart is pure it is not a given that righteous words will always flow out of it for the heart is willful and emotional and can speak from injury, hurt or mood. Thus control or restraint of words is always wise if we would have our words valued by others.
The images used in Proverbs for human speech indicate the value of this divine gift that we give so little consideration to and education of. Because we take speech for granted it is often just let loose and wasted or abused.
That is not what God intended when He gave us the gift of communication. He intended that we should use speech wisely and speak valved words. It takes a change of heart as well as a change of mind that we might speak righteously. Yet the difficult task of refining our speaking process is worth the effort, for the righteous use valued words that bring blessings (CIM).
I. DISCERNING RIGHTEOUS WORDS
Wisdom's words correspond to right believing, right thinking, and right action therefore they are not only righteous but lead us to become righteous. Hear in Proverbs 8:8 the testimony that righteous reality is found in wisdom's words. "All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing crooked or perverted in them."
A pure condition of the heart does not guarantee righteous words, for they come from godly wisdom. Righteous utterances point people in the right direction. None of them are crooked or twisted, neither are they perverse or distortions of morality.
The statement in Proverbs 10:13 contrasts discerning and foolish speech. "On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding."
It is the discerning person whose speech contains the wisdom in which righteousness is found. Discernment is found in differentiation which is the ability to go beyond the superficial and comprehend the eternal reality. On the other hand, the foolish man unknowingly makes himself a target for the rod of correction.
Proverbs 10:31 & 32 addresses the subject of talking. "The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, but the perverted tongue will be cut out. (32) The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted."
Here it is stated who has the ability to sprout or bear the fruit of wisdom. The righteous, they sprout or bring forth wisdom meaning they know how to communicate that which is truly good and suitable for the intended or beneficial end. They can unriddle difficult complications and discern the right way to proceed.
Verse 32 indicates that the just person knows what to say, that which is fitting or appropriate and is able to say it so that it is met with acceptance. As a tree naturally brings forth fruit so wise words are a natural result of uprightness (Luke 6:43-45). Thus they are fitting or appropriate (Prov. 10:14). The perverted's (those turned away from truth) speech is deceitful.
Another way to discern if the thoughts spoken are the valued words of the righteous is found in Proverbs 12:17. "He who speaks (breathes) truth tells what is right, But a false witness deceit."
The witness here is that honesty and integrity are displayed from the inner nature. The righteous speaks truth is literally "breathes forth justices." The thought is that speaking truth has become as natural to him as breathing. An unrighteous person deliberately tells lies even in court (6:17, 19; 14:5, 25; 19:5, 9; 21:28).
II. THE RIGHTEOUS BLESS
Proverbs 10:6 reveals that the righteous are blessed and that the wicked are angered about it. "Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence."
This verse refers to the blessings and curses which come to men and which come from them. Blessings are bestowed as well as prayed down from above. The wicked may also speak words of blessing but they conceal or mask the violence that lurks behind them. As Jesus stated, "The evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart" (Luke 6:45).
Proverbs 11:11 states that the righteous bring prosperity to a city but the wicked endanger it. "By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down."
The righteous have a beneficial effect on society. Blessing signifies the advantages that the upright achieve for a city. Conversely the wicked citizen's mouth (not to mention their deeds) results in tearing down society both economically and morally.
Proverbs16:13 teaches that kings should value honesty to establish (make firm or secure) the realm. "Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and he who speaks right is loved."
Kings value honest speech for how else can correct decision be made if they are not based on unbias facts. People will not love those who speak wickedly but those who speak right so that stability can be established (16:30).
When wisdom is internalized Proverbs 23:15 -16 states that it reveals itself in speech. "My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart also will be glad, and my innermost being will rejoice, when you lips speak what is right."
Wisdom is to be internalized in one's heart (23:17, 19, 26; 12; 22:17). Then a wise heart is revealed by speaking what is right. When this happens rejoicing in the inner-self [the intellectual and emotional being] occurs. This blessing comes upon a father of a son who uses valued words. Because the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart (Matthew 12:34), it is not surprising that the wise man speaks wisely.
III. THE SOURCE OF VALUED WORDS.
The ultimate or first source of righteous or valued words is God, but how does God reveal them to man? God reveals them to the man that meditates on God's Word and then applies it to life.
Proverbs 15:28 teaches a righteous person considers his answers before giving them. "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things."
The contrast is with the wicked mouth pouring and the righteous heart pondering. Both have answers. The righteous person weighs or carefully evaluates or considers his response or answers before giving them rather than blurting out the first thing that comes to his mind. That way his words are more appropriate and timely. A fool however gushes out his responses like water bubbles forth from a spring. They speak rashly because they care little about the effect or consequences of their words.
IV. THE RESULT OF RIGHTEOUS WORDS.
Proverbs 10:11 reveals that the words of a righteous person are like a fountain of life. "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence."
The words of a righteous and wise person are like a fountain of life (13:14; 14:27; 16:22; 18:4). His words of wisdom are as pure and refreshing as a cool spring to a weary traveler. The words of the righteous have a life giving quality and are a source of spiritual and physical vigor.
Proverbs 10:20 states the speech of a righteous man is valuable. "The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little."
In contrast to the degrading talk of the wicked (18-19), the tongue of the righteous is uplifting, and therefore his words are valued like choice silver. Choice silver is tested by fire. The heart and mind of the righteous has purified his heart and speech so that others can trust what he says. However not even the thoughts or sense (heart) of the wicked have value, let alone their words!
In Proverbs 10:21 we learn that the speech of a just man is nourishing but the conversation of fools deadens. "The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding."
Another reason righteous words are valuable is that they nourish or/benefit others; mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Having found righteousness from feeding on the Lord's words, they can now feed others. They that have been discipled at the feet of the Lord can now break the Bread of Life given to them and share it with others. Fools lack discerning judgment in what they say. Their kind of talking does not even nourish themselves. They are left morally and spiritually under nourished and starved. Fools are dying while they are living.
Proverbs12:6 reveals that the upright rescue/defend the victims attacked by gossipers and slanderers. "The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood; But the mouth of the upright will deliver them."
The speech of the wicked will destroy people be it through gossip, slander or advise. The just not only knows how to answer and escape such attacks, their words can also rescue victims ambushed by the wicked.
Proverbs 29:6 teaches that the mature righteous sings and rejoices. "By transgression an evil man is ensnared, but the righteous sings and rejoices."
"An evil man is ensnared" in his own trap. The righteous can live happy carefree lives not worrying that their actions might boomerang on them. He can sing and rejoice as he escapes the snares and goes on his way joyfully and victorious.
IN CONCLUSION
Speech is the vehicle which should reveal good sense and righteous thought. The Christian who recognizes how awesome is the gift of speech will not abuse that gift but dedicate it to the glory of God.
The wicked have hopes and dreams but they are the disappointing dreams of this foolish world. God calls us to truth and eternal reality. He calls us to meditate on His Word and examine our heart in its light and then apply it that our speech and our life might be righteous. Then we can be blessed and become a blesser.
