From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2005 6:03 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: January 23, 2005 Greetings

"Come, you children, listen to me;
 I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
 Who is the man who desires life,
 And loves length of days that he may see good?
 Keep your tongue from evil,
 And your lips from speaking guile."  Psalm 34:11-13

In reading Psalm 34 this week, these verses caught my attention.  David had been praising the Lord for His deliverance for the first 10 verses and then turns to man to teach what he has come to know of the Lord.  His first admonition is 'Keep your tongue from evil'.  Though it is small, it has the ability to cause great havoc, pain and suffering.  Therefore, Scripture gives us warning concerning the tongue:

"The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
 The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."  Proverbs 13:3

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
 Guards his soul from troubles."  Proverbs 21:23

"If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless." James 1:26 (This Scripture should cause all to be slow to speak because the very testimony of Christ is at stake here for a Believer who speaks unwisely.)

Scripture warns us against speaking evil:
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor; and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians 4:31

"Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men."  Titus 3:1-2

Here is another strong word from James in 3:6,
"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell."

And in James 4:11-12,
[My] brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another.  He that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning and criticizing the Law and judging the Law...One only is the Lawgiver and Judge Who is able to save and to destroy [the One Who has the absolute power of life and death]. [But you] who are you that [you presume to] pass judgment on your neighbor? The Amplified Bible

1 Peter 3:10, talking of Christian conduct, repeats Psalm 34:12-13.

Scripture gives admonition concerning speech:
"He who restrains his words has knowledge,
 And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding."  Proverbs 17:27

"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person."  Colossians 4:6

"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith, and love which are in Christ Jesus."  2 Timothy 1:13

"In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you."  Titus 2:7-8

"For we all stumble in many things.  If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body."  James 3:2

Of wise words Scripture says:
"The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
 And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
 Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."  Proverbs 16:23-24

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
 In settings of silver."  Proverbs 25:11

How do we respond to warnings and admonitions?  The Apostle Paul sums it up this way: "Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you."  2 Timothy 1:14

We are not left to our own strength or wisdom, but hallelujah, our Heavenly Father has provided for all our needs in Christ Jesus.  Bless and praise Him forever. Amen.