Give up destructive speech and embrace gracious word.
The ancient Jews were conscious how they spoke, especially when it came to God’s name. God’s name in the Hebrew is spelled YHWH and pronounced Yahweh. However, the Jews considered God’s name to be so holy and revered that they would not say it. Ancient scribes, when they were about to write God’s name in a scroll, would wash themselves and put on a clean robe. If they were to speak in reference to God, they would say Adonai.
Additionally, the Jews knew that words could not be recalled once they were spoken. A promise that was made could not be broken. This gives keen insight into the weight that was given to words.
But not so in our times. We say “oh my God” as if the Creator of the Universe is our next-door neighbor. And this about Hollywood. “The Wolf of Wall Street set a record for profanity for a US feature film. The movie used a certain profane word 506 times in a span of 180 minutes Profanity has become a common form of speech. ” Phil Ressler.
The purpose of today’s meditation is to make you think twice about the power of the words you use as well as what the Bible says about how we talk.
“With it, (the tongue), we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so [the tongue] is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.” James 3:1, 7-9.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11.
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them,” Ephesians 4:29.
Question: How would you describe your speech?
Activity: Pledge on this day to focus on using language that seeks to honor God. True, pure, and uplifting.
Prayer: Dear God of true speech, your words have created worlds and brought into our lives the divine Word testifying to us what is true and pure. We know that the human tongue can be full of evil and vile words: gossip, profanity, and gutter talk. Please purify our hearts because we know that words proceed from the heart. May you be honored by what we say. In Jesus’ name. Amen.