Last Lesson from Granny’s Hospital Room:  TIME FOR A TONGUE CHECK-UP

by Tammy Phillips
August 16, 2020

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. – Proverbs 15:1 NKJV

Above is a text that I received from my mother-in- love from her hospital bed.  I changed the title, that is for another day.   I did study Granny’s mid-night revelation. (I do not think she liked the way I spoke to somebody or maybe it’s everybody.)  Here is what found…

I have been taught don’t stick out your tongue and now, I know why.   Most of the time, when we stick out our tongue, nice thoughts are not crossing our minds.  And, our tongue is a sword that can be used for good or bad.

Stick out your tongue.  For real, stick it out.  Think about it; our tongue is the shape of a sword.  Now, put it back in the sheath of your mouth and keep it there if you are not going to use it for good.

Words are so powerful. (I wish I had known their full potential when I was raising kids. I yelled too much and lost control a little too often.)    Words can cut, enflame and destroy.  A slight of the tongue can slice to the core and traumatize the recipient for life.  However, the tongue can also, build up, strengthen and hearten.  As an enCOURAGER, a good word delivered can cool, inspire and reside with someone for the rest of their life.

“Pleasant words [are like] a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. -Proverbs 16:24 NKJV

Let’s look at Proverbs 15:1.  In this verse, wrath in is the Hebrew word, chemah.  It is defined as fury, poison, displeasure, rage, anger, and heat.  Mediate on this:

A soft answer turns away wrath.
A soft answer turns away the heat.
A soft answer turns away hot displeasure.
A soft answer turns away fury.
A soft answer turns away rage.
A soft answer turns away anger.
A soft answer turns away poison.

But…

A harsh word, ‘etseb in Hebrew, meaning,
A grievous word
A bitter word
A cutting word
A sharp word
A laborious word
A hurtful word
A painful word
A heavy word

Stirs up…

 Anger, ‘aph in Hebrew, meaning,
The Nose
Rapid breathing
Breathing Hard
Blowing breath through nose
Passion
Anger
Wrath
Displeasure

What compelling words from God!   A harsh word spoken is like adding fuel to the fire or injecting poison; a soft word spoken helps extinguish the fire and dilutes the effectiveness of the poison.

James 3:6 and 8, further enforces the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs 15:

 “And the tongue [is] a fire… and it is set on fire by hell.  No man can tame the tongue. [It is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

WOA!  When the venom is spewing and coming our direction, we have to be walking in the Spirit and exercising remarkable self-control to be able to douse the evil with a soft and tender word.

I enCOURAGE you…wait can you encourage me?  I need to apply duct tape to my mouth, AGAIN.  This one hurts.  I need to turn my thoughts, mouth, tongue and tone, over to the Lord.  Seriously, in this volatile time in history, we need to think long and hard before we  open our mouth’s.  How is your tongue doing? 

For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he [is] a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. – James 3:2 NKJV