Walking with the Wise #200: Healing Words

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
—Proverbs 15:4

The older that I get, the more amazed I am at the power of words. Whether it is a wife longing for words of love from her husband, or the child the words of approval from his father or mother, we long for good words. Words that validate and cement our existence, words that give approval and encouragement to one’s soul. Words can clothe or they can undress, wound or heal. Words in large part are the definers and directors of reality and one’s soul.

God knows the power of words, because He created them. In fact, the very first thing that ever was—that defines and contains reality in itself is the divine Word of God, as the Bible says,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”—John 1:1-5.

The divine Word is powerful bringing life and light to all the world. And while our normal everyday words are astronomically less, the power of our words are still enormously powerful. How many of us have been encouraged by the power of a compliment? Or have been stung by words of criticism? How many of us have longed for words of affirmation? Or words of love? The innate desire for words indicates our nature as God’s image bearers. But because of the Fall our purpose was polluted and it is only through going to the divine Word that it can truly be restored. He defines reality for us and directs us through His Spirit as the Spirit grows up the Son of God within us.

And as we are growing in Christlikeness, we ask God to transform our tongues. I have often wondered if the one of the most difficult areas of our sanctification involves our tongues. So often it seems the last area for so many people that God’s Spirit sets to transform. The Bible says,

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it 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. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water”—James 1:6-12.

The proverbs says the tongue, especially a gentle tongue is a tree of life. The word translated “gentle” is the Hebrew word “marpe” which literally means, “healing, cure, health.” Words that are to build up not tear down serve to reinvigorate, revitalize, and energize those who receive them. But perverse tongues break the spirit. The Hebrew word for “break” is “shever” which literally means to "fracture, crush, or break." The idea is that perverse or crooked speech leads to heartbreak for those who hear them. They are hurt, deflated, crushed, stung, or burned by crooked words.

As Christians, we must make sure that we are true representatives of the divine Word, using our words as a means of encouragement to those around us. We must make sure that we guard our tongue, not using our speech to tear down, but to build up, as the Bible says,

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear”—Ephesians 4:29.

May the Lord our God sanctify our speech, and transform our tongues so that we might use our words to bring life and healing to all who hear us speak for God’s glory and our joy. Amen.