Words that Crush

By Colleen Podmore

‘I will put a muzzle on my mouth’ Psalm 39:1

This week we are going to continue with the same theme that Hayley introduced last week. She started with a verse from Psalm 39:1 and then we looked at some verses in James, which talk about how powerful and destructive our words can be.

With our words we can praise God and with our words we can curse people (James 3:9).

James also makes the point that if we call ourselves Christians, yet don’t control our words, then our faith is worthless (James 1:26).

Interestingly, one of the themes that keeps coming up again and again in the Old testament is that the Israelites constantly grumbled/murmured/complained about their situation time and time again and God was not pleased with them.

There are many examples in Exodus & Numbers (Exodus 14:10; 15:22; 16:1; 16:19; 16:27; 17:1; 32:1; Numbers 11:1; 11:4; 12:3; 14:2; 16:1,41; 20:3; 21:1), but on the other hand the Psalms are full of laments which are cries of sorrow but could also be classified as complaints and God is ok with these. I think the fundamental difference might be that one complains about God (He brought us out of Egypt where we were better off. This manna that God provides is hideous) rather than complaining too God (God you are good, look at our situation and help us please). The laments in the Psalms often reveal great confidence and faith in God during difficult times (Psalm 4:5).

If we read the Proverbs, we will find many warnings about the tongue and our words eg ‘When words are many sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise’ Pr 10:19 and my favourite ‘Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue’ Pr 17:28.

Sometimes we are not even aware of the way we speak, as Hayley said last week, we can be sure that whatever is in our hearts will surely come out of our mouths. If we need healing in areas or harbour bitterness and unforgiveness, be sure our words will reflect this maybe by sarcasm, gossip etc. I have prepared a list of negative ways of speaking with their dictionary meanings to help us to become more aware and also a list of verses which will illustrate these ways of speaking.

Finally the antidote to all these negative speech patterns is to have thankful hearts, to be grateful and content. Paul knew the path to true peace and joy. He said that in whatever circumstances, he had learned to be content, whether living in plenty or want because ‘he could do all things through Him who gives him strength’ (Phil 4:13)

What is the name of the speech that is being illustrated in these Scriptures?
 
Proverbs 6:17................................................................
2 Corinthians 12:20............................................................
Ephesians 4:31....................................................................
1 Corinthians 13:4-6...........................................................
Proverbs 3:34; Psalm 1:1....................................................
Titus 3:2..............................................................................
1Timothy 2:8.......................................................................
Numbers 14:2.....................................................................
Numbers 13:33..................................................................
Numbers 21:5....................................................................
Exodus 20:7.......................................................................
2 Corinthians 8:20.............................................................
1 Thessalonians 5:20.........................................................
Psalm 12:2.........................................................................
 
One area of my speech that I want to change is in the area of:
 
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Glossary of Speech Terms
 
Blasphemy – to speak irreverently of God. Take God’s name in vain, to curse and swear
 
Boastful – to speak with vanity, to brag, to praise oneself
 
Contempt – scorn, disregard. Look down upon as unworthy
 
Contentious – strife, debase, argue, touchy
 
Criticise – to pass judgement, to censure
 
Cursing – to utter a wish of evil against
 
Complain – to express distress, lament, grumble, discontent
 
Cynical – sneering, distrustful of people’s motives
 
Derision – ridicule, mock, laugh at with scorn
 
Exaggeration – to represent as greater than truth or justice will warrant
 
Flattery – to praise unduly and insincerely. Pr 26:28; 28:23
 
Gossip – idle talk about others regardless of fact. Pr 11:13; 18:8
 
Haughty - proud
 
Innuendo – an illusive remark usually deprecatory, an indirect hint
 
Irony – a mode of speech in which the meaning is the opposite of that actually expressed
 
Lying – habit of being untruthful. Pr 12:22; 14:5; 15:4;
 
Mockery – laugh at, ridicule, to make a fool of. Pr 14:6
 
Nagging – worry by constant fault finding. Pr 14:1
 
Profanity – irreverence, the use of bad language
 
Quarrel –dispute, wrangle, disagree. Pr 19:13; 15:1; 15:18
 
Rebuke – to censure, reprove, reprimand. Pr 9:8; 12:18
 
Rudeness – uncivil, unwholesome talk, vulgar, offensive
 
Sarcasm – taunt, scoffing jibe, veiled sneer,
 
Satire – use of irony, sarcasm, invective or wit. Pr10:10
 
Scorn – extreme disdain, contempt, object of derision
 
Slander – false or malicious statement about a person
 
Swearing – to utter, affirm, declare an oath, to use the name of God or sacred things profanely
 
Vulgarity – coarse or offensive
 
‘When words are many sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise’ Proverbs 10:19
 
‘The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful’ Proverbs 12:22
 
‘He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin’ Proverbs 13:3
 
‘Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue’ Proverbs 17:28
 
‘He who answers before listening – that is his folly and his shame’ Proverbs 18:13
 
‘The tongue has the power of life and death...’ Proverbs 18:21
 
‘He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity’ Proverbs 21:23
 
‘Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips’ Proverbs 27:2