Proverbs 16:23, “The heart of the wise teacheth, his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.”
Our mouth definitely needs teaching – or bridling – or stopping – or at least being controlled!
This verse puts a humorous picture in my mind. I can see here a person giving his mouth a lecture. Instructing it on proper behavior and admonishing it for speaking improperly.
Aside from my imagination, I believe that this verse is basically saying that it is the heart that controls the mouth. If your heart is right: filled with God’s truths and seeking to serve Him — then what comes out of your mouth will be right.
Let’s examine a few of the verses that talk about the mouth or the tongue. The Bible is actually full of verses on this subject and it would be a worthy study to do on your own.
- Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
- Proverbs 16:24, “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
- Psalm 89:1, “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
- Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
- Psalm 141:3, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
A wise and learned person will keep a close watch on how he speaks. Our prayer needs to be the same as David’s in Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
We have a great opportunity every day to use our words to serve God and to build up and encourage others. Let’s make a conscious effort to ‘teach our mouth’ to speak in a manner that will honor God!
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