PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:23-24).

“The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth,” this is self-training, self-teaching. After awhile, when you are right with God, the mouth will teach you discretion—when to talk and when not to talk. There is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).

“. . . and addeth learning to his lips,” if you have a wise heart you’ll not only speak kind things, but you’ll say things that people will profit from, that they will learn from.

Do you limit your words? A wise man knows the danger of much speaking (Pr 10:19). He knows even a fool appears wise, when he is silent (Pr 17:27-28). Silence is golden.

Are you slow to speak? God gave you two ears and one mouth, so be quick to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19). Hasty speech will make you worse than a fool (Proverbs 29:20).

Do you study before speaking? Blurting out thoughts or talking in the heat of emotion is foolish. You should hear the whole matter and study before speaking (Proverbs 15:28; 18:13).

Do you love graciousness? A wise man’s words are gracious, because they flow from a pure heart, and even kings desire and favor such speakers (Proverbs 22:11; Ecclesiastes 10:12; Colossians 4:6).

Do you teach others? When you speak, you should communicate certain words of truth (Proverbs 22:17-21; I Pet 3:15). Your goal is to edify or build others up (Proverbs 16:24; Ephesians 4:29).

“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones,” good words, and pleasant words do two things: 1) They help a person spiritually, and 2) they help a person physically. This goes back to 15:13 “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” When you can encourage somebody, you help them physically.

The honeycomb is medicinal and is sweet to the soul. It is pleasant, and health to the bones. God told Israel that if they would listen to His words and keep his statutes then He would not put diseases on them: they wouldn’t get sick, and they would be healthy: “And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26). God’s Words are pleasant words.

Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so let's read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let's keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.

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