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In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
“Would a wise person answer with empty notions or fill their belly with the hot east wind? Would they argue with useless words, with speeches that have no value? But you even undermine piety and hinder devotion to God. Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty. Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; your own lips testify against you.”
“Are you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills? Do you listen in on God’s council? Do you have a monopoly on wisdom? What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have? The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men even older than your father. Are God’s consolations not enough for you, words spoken gently to you? Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash, so that you vent your rage against God and pour out such words from your mouth?”
Job 15:1-13
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
How many times has a person said words that damaged another? How many times has a person said something they regretted later? How many times has a person gotten into trouble over poorly chosen words that were spoken?
Too many times I’m afraid.
The fact of the matter is that there aren’t too many people not guilty of saying something wrong at one time or another in their life. In fact, we have even seen sayings enter into our vocabulary that echo this truth. How often have you heard someone exclaim, “me and my big mouth” or “open mouth and insert foot” or “I was running my mouth again”?
It’s interesting that in the Bible, the first place where the tongue begins to be referred to as a negative part of one’s body and something to be wary of is here in the Book of Job. Afterwards, there are many other references but the start of discussions about the problem of the tongue begin here…and particularly at the start of Chapter 15.
All three of Job’s friends had spoken to him and Job followed each with a discourse which actually was more of a rebuttal of their words than anything. As Chapter 15 opens, Eliphaz starts a second round of exchanges with Job.
What I find interesting about these verbal interactions is how volatile they became. The three friends were introduced to us as they came to be by Job’s side in the midst of his affliction. In fact, they sat with him for a week in silence as Job did not speak a word and they didn’t see it appropriate to speak either. They were just there in silent support of their friend. There was peace.
Maybe they should have just remained quiet.
Because as soon as the mouths opened and the tongues got to work, that’s when the trouble started. And Job’s friends who had come to be encouragers and comforters turned more into accusers and judges as matters escalated from one exchange to the next.
Consider the words of James from the New Testament book of his name:
“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”
“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. “ James 3:5-10
The relationship between Job and his friends began well enough but when the tongues started to spew sparks of dissent and dispute, their relationship burst into flames. And no one cared to put the fire out. Instead, each exchange threw more fuel on the fire.
Look at Eliphaz’s opening words in Chapter 15:
“Would a wise person answer with empty notions or fill their belly with the hot east wind? Would they argue with useless words, with speeches that have no value? But you even undermine piety and hinder devotion to God. Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty. Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; your own lips testify against you.”
“Are you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills? Do you listen in on God’s council? Do you have a monopoly on wisdom? What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have? The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men even older than your father. Are God’s consolations not enough for you, words spoken gently to you? Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash, so that you vent your rage against God and pour out such words from your mouth?”
Hardly words that plead for reconciliation. No, these words were inflammatory and only exasperated the situation, making what was bad even worse.
Maybe you have been involved in an exchange like this before. Two people start to disagree and argue. One says one thing negative, the other person returns with a negative in response, this leads to a return shot from the other person which results in a return volley of words from the other…and it repeats and repeats and repeats until someone gets hurt…or even killed in the world we live in today.
Eliphaz did say one thing that was of substance. He stated, “…sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty” and then adds “your own mouth condemns you…your own lips testify against you.”
Indeed, sin does some of its best work through the tongue and we too easily fall prey to it. And it just doesn’t affect the mouth and lips. James writes that it “corrupts the whole body” and can set the course of one’s life on fire. Many have been burned by opening up their mouth and allowing their tongue to speak sinful, damaging words.
Yes, in the tongue we have a major problem on our hands. It gets us in trouble more times than not and we can’t tame it. God’s word in James assures us that.
So what do we do? How do we control our mouths and make sure that what comes out is glorifying to God?
We have to allow the Lord to speak through us.
When we take control of our tongues, that’s when we get ourselves into predicament…just like when we try and take control of our lives. Lord knows, I have had more than one experience where God allowed me to have control just to show me how quickly I could mess my life up. Things don’t go well when I’m in charge.
But when I allow God to be in control of my life, submitting to His will and His way, then my words become His words spoken through me. David, a man who was after God’s own heart, was a great example of this. In Second Samuel, we see these words from God’s faithful servant king:
“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.” 2 Samuel 23:2
Yes, God wants His words to be our words and He gave us His Holy Spirit to ensure this happens. We need only surrender our hearts, minds, and tongues to the Spirit and His lead.
It’s the only real way to solve the problem of the tongue, something Job and his friends had yet to figure out.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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