Thoughts on the topic of speech from the book of wisdom

This will be my second 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 ate a number of posts related to it

Speech

How does speech relate to prosperity, life and peace? Much in every way, and Solomon, ever the graphic storyteller, has some word pictures that are meant to stick in the mind, somewhat like an ear-worm – that constant tune you can’t get out of your head. Solomon wants to provide us mind worms, pictures in our mind that need to rise to our thoughts as we walk through our lives.

15:7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

Solomon speaks of knowledge here. If I had written this passage, I would have mentioned wisdom, or discernment, and not simply knowledge. Knowledge can be gained by a book, it can be dry, and factual, unchanging and uninteresting.

Is that what Solomon is speaking? Is he simply talking of the wise telling facts and figures, data and information?

I think not for as I do a bit of research, I find that the term for knowledge in this verse is דַּעַת daʻath, and comes from the root word in Hebrew of “to know” יָדַע yâda. Now if you have followed me for any time you will realize where I am going to go with this.

(Of course, if you are new here – Welcome to the blog, and take a moment to consider Inherit the Kingdom? Who knew? It is a very early post from back in 2019 that may provide you good background to where I am going with Proverbs 15:7)

Ok back to Proverbs 15:7 and knowledge. As mentioned, the Hebrew word has roots back to יָדַע yâda, “to know” and includes shades of meaning that are not limited to my preconceived erroneous thoughts above.

To know in the Hebrew includes the skill to discriminate, to distinguish, to admit, to consider, to know by experience, to learn, to be wise, to find out. To know in the Hebrew is quite an inclusive term that is most appropriate for this verse. Thankfully I didn’t write this Proverb!

Nevertheless, the lips of the wise disperse knowledge. It is the nature of love to share, the nature of wisdom to be distributed. To those who have learned of Christ, both experientially and doctrinally, having scoured the Word for His truth, and walked this world in light of your findings, you can’t help but want to provide your witness. Though we live in a world that is increasing in it’s hostility to knowledge and wisdom, there are bright spots where we find those who accept the dispersal of knowledge.

Yet the lips of the wise disperse knowledge, whether there are receptive ears to hear or not.

The heart, the very life center of the fool does not disperse knowledge. The life center of a fool disperses excuses, complaints, “feelings” (whatever that means), wickedness, selfishness and in the end, death. The heart of a fool has no knowledge, discernment or wisdom to provide, little lone disperse.

Empty, with nothing to provide to anyone, self centered and all alone, the fool becomes less and less.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge. The image I get from this short passage is of the one who is wise never running out of knowledge to disperse, and if I may suggest, this knowledge is fresh and lively, not dependent on yesterdays knowledge, but dependent on the living experience of knowing the Savior.

The well is deep with the Savior and the knowledge available is abundant, wide, deep and new every morning.

Don’t be a fool, decreasing in your life. Seek the Living One, and have lips that disperse knowledge!

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