"Words Fitly Spoken"

by D. Smith, Lerwick | Category: General | Nov 1980

Eliphaz the Temanite, paid a worthy tribute to Job when he said, "Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast confirmed the feeble knees" (Job 4:3-4). Job, a perfect and upright man and one who feared God, had carefully instructed many another in the same way. A man who walks in the way of God will encourage others to walk with him. Although the response may sometimes be discouraging, as it was with Job's own family, the need to counsel and nurture others in the ways of the Lord is ever present.

With the keen spiritual perception he possessed, Job perceived that some were straying away from what was right and pleasing to the Almighty. Their lives were being brought near to ruin through various solicitations of this evil world. Often in such cases there is little that one can do to reverse the process, but with godly discretion Job had spoken words to uphold and stay those so falling. The righteous are exposed to various stumbling-blocks, for the great adversary, who stood not in the truth (John 8:44) but fell from his exalted station as the covering cherub in the Eden of God (Ezek. 28:11 - 16), employs his subtle wisdom and power to bring down to destruction every one who would live to the glory of God. But a word spoken in season can thwart this evil process and strengthen the unstable saint.

The beauty of the proverb, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in baskets of silver" (Prov. 25:11) was seen in the Lord Jesus, who although bearing sorrow and grief, was wakened morning by morning to be taught of God "how to sustain with words him that is weary". Undoubtedly a multitude of people were served with "apples of gold in baskets of silver" at the mouth of Him who so readily spoke a word in season to sustain and comfort the faint and weary. Grace had been poured into the lips of Him who was "fairer than the children of men". Can the faithful disciple ignore the example of the Master to supply by way of a gracious word spoken in love, the strength and encouragement necessary to uphold one faint and weary in the way?

In his deep and varied experience of life Job must have realized the truth of Elihu's words, "the ear trieth words as the palate tasteth meat" (Job 34:3). As meat unpleasant to the palate can affect the body, so can wicked and improper words inflict lasting pain and disorder to the soul and spirit. Indeed it is significant that so long ago the devastating effect of human words was recognized. Job himself was to feel the cruel sting of the bitter and malignant tongue, as expressed in the question to his friends, "How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?" (19:2). He who had strengthened and upheld others was now bruised and broken by cruel words and perverted speech. And many have suffered in the same manner, troubled by the untamed tongues of men. Young lives blossoming in righteousness and showing signs of ability and faithfulness have been blasted by prating with wicked words (3 John 10). Assemblies and servants of God have been similarly ravaged and wounded.

It is therefore not surprising that such godly men as David and Solomon should seek divine help in regulating their own words and give explicit warning to others of the dangers involved in hasty speech. "Set a watch, 0 LORD before my mouth; keep the door of my lips" (Psa. 141:3) prayed David, who declared "I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle" (Psa. 39:1). Solomon says it is a "wise son" that heareth instruction, "A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth... He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction" (Prov. 13:2,3). With equal apprehension the New Testament writers view the evil of undisciplined speech. James says, with outstanding frankness, "If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain" (J as. 1:26). On the same subject Peter takes up the words of David in Psalm 34, "He that would love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile" (1 Pet. 3:10). Paul, who directed his powerful ministry to the building up of the assemblies and that he might "present every man perfect in Christ", states positively, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt" (Col. 4:6). To the Ephesian elders Paul emphasizes the edifying effect of grace, "Now I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up" (Acts 20:32). How soon saints and assemblies can be broken down by the ruthless and unsparing talk of unbridled tongues! To every Christian comes the injunction, "Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying" (Eph. 4:29) and "seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church" (1 Cor. 14:12). "Let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Cor. 14:26).

Let us seek to build up and promote faith and confidence in the assembly where we are found. To sustain with words a weary soul or uphold with wise and gracious speech one that is falling away from the living God is a precious ministry. May we all be exercised to discharge it with love and diligence. Such a work is not exclusive to brethren. The words of sisters can encourage and sustain. Many a "good soldier" and "faithful minister" owes his strength and spiritual attainment to the counsel and encouragement of godly sisters and kindly mothers whose gracious words were "as apples of gold in baskets of silver".

D. Smith, Lerwick | Nov 1980
General