The Tongue

"The boneless tongue, so small and weak, 
    Can crush and kill," declares the Greek,
"The tongue destroys a greater horde,"
    The Turk asserts, "than does the sword."
The Persian proverb wisely saith,
    "A lengthy tongue - an early death!"
Or sometimes takes this form instead,
    "Do not let your tongue cut off your head."
"The tongue can speak a word whose speed,"
    Say the Chinese, "outstrips the steed."
The Arab sages said in part,
    "The tongue's great storehouse is the heart."
From Hebrew was the maxim sprung,
    "Thy feet should slip, but ne'er the tongue."
The sacred writer crowns the whole,
    "Who keeps the tongue doth keep his soul." 

- James S. Hewitt, ed., Illustrations Unlimited. 

 

Reference Menu (January 18th, 2013)

Rounding up some interesting links that I want to share

John Piper on Tongues and Prophecy: This topic has been in my mind for a while.

Tim Challies talking about Bibliolater: Do you worship the God revealed in Scripture or do you worship the Bible (the paper and ink and word)?

$5 Friday Sale at Ligonier: Perhaps some good stuff on sales.

Oprah Winfrey, Nick Vujicic and Rick Warren: Somewhat went viral in the Christian Community.

Mankind of Unclean Lips

[UPDATED] What runs through our minds when we speak a word that comes out of our tongue? With every breath that we breathe, what kind of speech or word or phrase will come out? Do we think clearly and thoroughly before we speak?

I certainly struggle with using correct words and terminologies when I speak. Most of the time I don't think before I speak. The words that I utter could be for meaningless entertainment and humor. It is certainly very easy to sin with our mouths. Words are not simply just words, but they could stick in a person's heart for a lifetime (Maybe I have posted a similar theme in the past, but I do not remember when I posted it). Words hurt people.

There are a lot of passages that are related to words, lips or tongues, and I'll give you some to meditate and consider:

• James 3:1-12 - blessing and cursing. 
• The Book of Proverbs has tons of verses on our tongue, but I especially want to note Proverbs 18:21. 
• Isaiah 6 - Isaiah confesses that he has an unclean lip. 
• Exodus 4:11 - remember who made our mouth. 
• Exodus 20:7 - Use the name of God in honor and reverence with our lips, not in vain. 
• Luke 6:45 - What you say defines you.

Everyday, we speak and use words, for those who can speak. From the time we were born, we cry and make noises to communicate with our parents about our needs. As we grow up, we whine and complain about things. We start to pick up bad languages and cuss at others. We use our lips to gossip behind people's back. As we grow older, we complain about life and be less thankful. Worse of all, we use our lips to curse God when His Son died on the cross for our sins. Nails were hammered on his hands and feet. Scoff, insult, "CRUCIFY", belittle and mockery all flew into the ears of the Son of God. Jesus could have spoken a word and destroy everything and everyone before Him. Jesus could have spoken a word that could have unbind Himself from the cross. But Jesus, instead of responding in resentment and vengeance, echoes a most loving phrase to the Father that we should profoundly think about, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)