Thoughts on the topic of speech from the book of wisdom

We will continue in this post on the topic of speech from the book of proverbs. Proverbs has much to say on the topic and due to the shear number of verses available on this topic, will provide ae a number of posts related to it.

Speech

Proverbs 18:6-7

A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.

A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

It isn’t often that Solomon writes a one sided proverb as he does here, describing the fools word’s and not contrasting them with the righteous man’s words in the same breath. But alas that is the situation in this passage.

In this short passage we learn of the lips and mouth of a fool. Is there a difference in the mind of Solomon between lips and mouth? Granted they are two different Hebrew words but for the life of me, I do not think Solomon is making a difference in his message. It is a difference without distinction. He is speaking of that orifice that causes us such trouble for our lives, and yet has been given to us by God to provide blessing and honor to others, especially to the Lord.

The result of the lips/mouth of a fool is strife. The ESV is picturesque in their translation, but the term “fight” is usually translated as strife. Dispute. Contention. Bickering. Arguments. Differences of opinions in Christian circles – we are so polite! Say it however you want, strife is not a synonym for peace and unity.

As we read the Word, we find that the result of a fools lips is strife. So often we understand this is describing the one who does not fear God, and that is true. Yet strife is strife, and we should be quick to admit as believers, we often fall into the role of a fool, spewing strife from our lips, (for righteousness sake, of course).

We always have a righteous excuse for causing division or debate. We are fighting for the truth we declare, willing to suffer the slings and arrows for the sake of righteousness. What hogwash. Strife is that which pours out from a fool’s mouth, and the second portion of the verse actually warns us of the result. It is as if we invite a beating, for one does not initiate a strifeful time without coming out of it looking the loser, even if a battle is won, or the argument is ceeded. How often I wrestled with my opponent – a brother in Christ – for the sake of a point of contention, winning the argument and losing the brother. I lived the fools life far too long, and the desire to be right was (and is) so strong in my heart, yet I know the Lord’s will is for grace and truth to be center stage. Peace and unity in Christ is the goal. Not peace at any cost and unity being found in some forced uniformity.

Our second verse speaks of the end of the fool, due to his mouth/lips. His lips produce his ruin! Destruction. How can that be? How can the sending of vibrations from an orifice on the body cause the destruction of the same body. How I struggle with the impacts of this truth sometimes, thinking the words are of no serious import. This also is wholly hogwash!

We must remember that the mouth/lips of any man is simply a conduit of the bubbling within the heart of the man or woman. Did not our Lord speak the truth when He spoke

Matthew 15:18-19 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Consider

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