- Proverbs 15 gives us some lessons on the use of our tongue.
- The first piece of wise advice is to answer softly because a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Rehoboam was Solomon’s son. He listened to bad counsel and answered his people harshly and lost most of his kingdom in a single day.
- Abner, however, encourages Joab that brothers shouldn’t be fighting against each other and a battle is ended and lives saved.
- A soft answer doesn’t just mean not raising your voice, though that’s a good start. It’s a gentle answer. We’re told by Paul to let our gentleness be evident to all. Gentleness is a relative of meekness and humility. For a Christian, it means not relying on yourself but relying on God. Don’t take up a fighting stance, take up a surrendered stance and let the Lord change hearts and circumstances. Don’t fight to insist on your way.
- Speaking of gentleness, another one of the proverbs is that a gentle tongue is a tree of life.
- What is a tree of life? In the garden there was a tree of life, it gave people everlasting life. In Revelation there again we see a tree of life which has healing in its leaves. Do you want to be able to offer people everlasting life and healing? We can do that by offering them Jesus Christ, who is the one who produces fruit through the branches abiding in the tree of life.
- What other tongue proverbs do we have in this chapter? What is on the lips of a wise and righteous person?
- The lips of the wise spread knowledge. Their prayers are heard and accepted. He is slow to anger instead of stirring up strife. They give advice leading to success. They give an apt answer bringing joy. The righteous think before they speak. They offer life-giving reproof.
