Words of the Wise
September 6th, 2007
Heidi Bolz
Ecclesiastes 9:17, 10:12
The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.
These passages talk about two opposites…words of the wise and words of fools. Words of the wise are quiet, gracious, and worthy of regard or obedience. On the other hand, the ruler of fools (not just your average “joe fool”) can shout and not be heard. In fact, the fool can be destroyed by his lips.
What impresses me is how the contrast between these is made even more extreme by the words used in the descriptions of the two kinds of people. The wise man is being compared to a king. Usually it would be the king who would be the most likely to be heard. What type of person would want their words to be unheard or devastating instead of quiet, gracious, and followed? I know I choose the second option. It’s easy for me to sit back and make a judgment call on someone else’s verbalizations, but more difficult playing back some of my own comments and conversations for evaluation. What if a tape recorder would play back 30%, 50%, or 75% of what I said just yesterday? Would I see the scale weighing heavier on the unheard and devastating side? As Paul would say, “May it never be!” I want to speak quiet and gracious words that are worth being considered.
How can I get wise? Foolish seems to come so naturally, of course, because of my sinful nature. Proverbs 2 speaks so plainly about how to get wisdom. It comes from being in close relationship with my wise God most of all. It comes from accepting His words, storing up His commands inside of me (there’s that heart issue again), turning my ear to wisdom and applying my heart to understanding. On top of all of that, I should be calling out for insight, crying out and searching for understanding. All of that takes time, precious time. Proverbs 2:6 plainly and simply states that the Lord gives wisdom.
Lord, help me to use that precious commodity, time, to be with you and to be in your Word. May my words be quiet, gracious, and worth hearing. Give me the sensitivity to the Holy Spirit so that words that would be anything otherwise wouldn’t pass my lips or even be thought of. This is a big prayer, I know, but you said in Ephesians 3:20 that you are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine so I am looking forward to what that could possibly be in terms of my words. May the words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight this day…and each day forward.