by Tammy Phillips
December 15, 2021
“Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV)
I have said it before, and I will say it again. Sometimes, I think I would be better off if I applied duck tape to my mouth. I am going to attempt to apply a Holy Spirit zipper to my mouth. I will have to consciously unzip it before speaking.
Do not be…
- rash, the Hebrew word, bahal meaning:
- trouble
- hasty
- hasten anxiously
- afraid
- dismayed
- tremble inwardly
- suddenly alarmed or agitated
- amazed
- …with your mouth
This statement is a mouth full in itself. “Do not be rash with your mouth.” We need to stop and think about what we say and pray. If we would only stop and think before we speak to God.
Websters 1828 dictionary defines rash as:
- Hasty in council or action; precipitate; resolving or entering on a project or measure without due deliberation and caution, and thus encountering unnecessary hazard; applied to persons.
- Uttered or undertaken with too much haste or too little reflection.
- Requiring haste; urgent.
- Quick; sudden. (http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/rash )
Holy Spirit has been telling me to go low and slow. Here is yet another lesson about slowing down. We all would be better off if we would slow down and not speak suddenly or out of fear.
Do not let your heart be…
- hasty, the Hebrew word, mahar, meaning:
liquid or flow easily - in a hurry
- carried headlong
- fearful
- quick
- speedy
- in a rush
- sudden
- swift
…to utter a word before God.
In this portion of the verse, we are instructed again to think about what we are praying about. We are not to spew to God. Our words are not to be liquid before Him. We are not to beg God in fear, but come to Him in faith, believing that He is more than able to answer any petition prayed according to His word.
God is in heaven, and you are on earth.
God is God after all. “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8 NKJV) We do not need to waste His time nor ours. Remember…
“Short and sweet brings defeat.” -Me
Therefore, let your words be few.
Matthew reiterates Solomon’s words: “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen [do]. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7 NKJV)
I enCOURAGE you with the words of the wisest man. Do not be rash with your mouth. Do not let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God. God is God and we are not. Let your words be few. Do not make promises you cannot keep. We are only as good as our word. Think before you speak, and your face won’t turn pink. “A fool’s voice is known by his many words.” (Ecclesiastes 5:3 NKJV)
“Therefore, the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,” (Isaiah 29:13 NKJV)
Complete in Him 