352. Proud Words

“May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things, who have said, ‘With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?’” Psalm 12:3-4.

Shameful, indeed, that so many proud words are spoken! Ungodly words, both written and spoken: words full of judgment and condemnation, words which have an appearance of wisdom, but in reality serve only for self-exaltation, self-defense, and the glorification of “I, me, and mine.”

Being saved from proud words requires a thorough salvation. For “the words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Verse 7.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This Word was all-powerful, pure, and glorious. It had creative powers, because “all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1-3.

However, sin made its way into the creation and humanity. So when you hear the words of a sinner, they are laden with dire threats and curses. They are words which fall to the ground, words that are unable to create life, words that are inherently cursed and doomed to destruction. May God liberate His people from such words.

The closer we draw to God, the more pure our words will become. Therefore each one that speaks in the church must speak as the oracles of God.

Thus Paul could write, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” 1 Thess. 2:13.

In other words, a person can come to such a life in God that he can speak the Word of God which is able to pierce into hearts and works effectively there through faith. When a person speaks year in and year out without any effect, then he has not spoken the Word of God, but rather human, soulish words. They may well be said with much feeling, but are nevertheless without effect.

When God spoke, it was so. God’s words are creative. They produce something because the Word of God shall not return void. It tears down everything that needs tearing down and builds up everything that needs building up. It causes the fall and rising of many.

The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us. It is through this Word that God will govern the world. Through this Word, God will put everything in its rightful place. Meditate upon the Word. May God make His Word clear to us through the Holy Spirit. May our words be few because we are on earth, and He is in heaven. Let us not imagine that we have discovered all the depths of the Word. We have not spent enough time in the refiner’s furnace to attain that. Nevertheless God does not despise the day of small beginnings.