“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Pro 18:21).
I have been thinking this week about the power of our words as children of God. What we say will either release heaven or hell on our breath. As we are in Christ, given heavenly authority we must come to an understanding and awareness of this truth (Ephesians 1:20-2:7). Keil and Delitzsch point out that “death and life is the great alternative which is placed before man” (Deuteronomy 30:15). These are the extremes, and life and death are in the power of the tongue. James 3:10 tells us, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”
Life and death, blessing and cursing. These are important issues today as we stand on the threshold of what the Lord is doing on the earth. We must ask ourselves if we want to be a part of blessing and life or a part of cursing and death. We cry out for the great harvest, but what are we speaking in our day-to-day lives? Are we espousing the curses, promoting our side of every argument such as is the way of our world today? Or, are we releasing life and blessing in our words?
Strong’s and Brown-Driver-Briggs (e-sword) both define the word for ‘death’ from Proverbs 18:21 as, death, dying, the place of death, realm of the dead, death by violence, and as being causative meaning to die, kill, or have one killed. Whereas they speak to ‘life’ words such as: alive, fresh, strong, green, flowing, reviving, sustenance, renewal. There is power in the tongue to speak death or to speak life, to destroy or to refresh not only others but also ourselves. This is what it means to “eat its fruit”. Remember the old saying, “You are what you eat?” What we speak out will either nourish or devour us and those we speak over. Our words will either refresh and revive or devour and consume.
The word James uses for ‘cursing’ in the verse above is defined by Strong’s as imprecation or execration. Imprecation is “to invoke evil on; utter curses.” Execration is “the act of cursing or denouncing (merriam-webster.com). “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” You might have guessed here the word used for ‘blessing’ from James speaks of invoking a blessing (Strong’s, Thayer, e-sword). They use words like praise, laudation, fine discourse, invocation of blessing, consecration, and benefit.
Our words release blessing or cursing, life or death over those toward whom our words are targeted. How do you speak over the people in your life? There are so many issues affecting us today and such polarization. Let us be light in the darkness. Let us remember the power possessed in our words and choose them carefully going forward. Speak life, speak blessing, over all whom you come into contact with. Whether it be in your home, passing by a homeless camp, watching the news and all that is volatile there, remember to speak life into each situation. Don’t forget to speak it over yourself, as well.
“The LORD bless you and keep you The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).