The dumb tongue doesn’t stop the dumb mind from minding dumb thoughts even if the tongue is not dumb enough to say them.
Does what we say depend on where we live or does where we live depend on what we say?
Psalm 15:3 (1-5) He that backbites not with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor.
How we say what we say matters: Judges 12:6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right.
Who hears what we say Matters: Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
What we say Matters: Psalm 15:3 He that backbites not with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor.
When it comes to communicating with words sometimes I need to simplify. If I were to stand in front of a mirror and listen to some of the high sounding stuff I say, my response might be “Make it plain”. Don’t make me interpret what the words mean. Don’t make me think so much. I just wanted conversation; a simple conversation. You know, one of those times where we talk. You say things and I listen. Then I say things and you listen. So we go back and forth with thoughts we both understand. I am not trying to be lazy. I just hope you won’t be either. I want what you say to be clear. So it can be easily understood. Just because your high school English teacher forced you to use a dictionary doesn’t mean you need to make me use one. I know that people’s different backgrounds and experiences give us unusual points of view. Still we should be able to use the same language.
Psalm 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.
I don’t want to hear that someone is perambulating about the pole of veracity amidst polished enamel brilliance. Just tell me they are lying through their teeth. If you have something that you need to say then just get it out. Please postpone profusely pontificating pious platitudes. Just say what you mean and mean what you say without being mean. I do think it is good to have a decent size vocabulary. I also think it is good to have a twenty ton dump truck when you need it. I just don’t think it should be your vehicle of choice when you want to go through the drive through for an ice cream. The corvette would work if you needed to show off but so would the old minivan.
What I say with all these wildly unfamiliar words can really be confusing. And what we say about one another can really be confusing; to God and to the Godly.
Proverbs 12:17 He that speaks truth shows forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. 18 There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. 19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. 20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counselors of peace is joy. 21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. 22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.There are a couple of things which come to mind when I wonder about why I sometimes write or talk with words many people don’t use every day. First is that it makes my sentences too long. Periods should be more frequent than commas or semi colons. Secondly, we tend to measure ourselves by others. I know that’s not too smart, but we do it. A wise fellow once said “People, who are always measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise”. Another thought is that I spent so much time reading those dictionaries I aught to be allowed to shine occasionally. To be honest it is often just the way I think. I have a different background than some folks. I don’t “red up” the table. I clear the table. I don’t “warsh” the car or watch smoke come out of the “chimley”. I like to use “r’s” where r sounds are needed and read the subtitles on movies as fast as they can put them up there. I know a thesaurus is not a dinosaur. No my mother was not an English teacher and yes as a matter of fact my father was a rocket scientist. I can describe the Grand Canyon in many ways but I like the way you just say “Wow!” I don’t want to present myself as though I am nobler than others but sometimes as you say “I must think I’m special”. I know I don’t have any more brains than the next person. Mine are just wired a little different.
Then there’s that tongue James talked about.
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
How did he know way back then that I would have that same thing in my mouth today? It’s wired to that strangely wired gray matter I was talking about. But the real issue with all of those things and pieces and thoughts being tied together is this. I’m in charge of it all. The tongue says what I tell it to. The brain thinks which big fancy words to use because I tell it to. These hands type long, long sentences because I tell them to; and all the rest. Every part of everything that makes me a pain to even have a simple conversation with only does what I tell it to.
Psalm 50:19-20 You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. 20 you sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
I am the jerk pulling the strings. My wife quickly says “You’re not a jerk”. With her mouth she says that. It says that because she told it to. The mouth doesn’t always agree with that. Even she doesn’t always agree with that. Because sometimes I am a real big long winded triple syllable jerk. Not always, but far too often. My job is to speak the truth; IN LOVE.
1Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
Wise lips speak wise words from wise thoughts where love is found