[Proverbs 18:21] Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Since time immemorial words meant something to those who used them, for good or for ill. Covenants, transactions, marriage vows and agreements need words. Depending on each individual’s character, after given words actions follow. Deeds back given words, but if not such words should have never been given in the first place.
As I was growing up I keenly observed human behavior. My father often said ‘this one does not keep his word, or you can’t rely on this one or that one.’ My father needed workers for his projects, but a solid and honest worker was hard to come by. I watched and wondered; ‘will I be one of those who keep or just play with words?’
Our life often depends on words, like traveling instructions. Careless instructions can set you off on a wrong course; blindly follow any given instructions and you may end up falling off a cliff. Good instructions will verify themselves as you go; they will ring true, but bad instructions often lack care and detail. You will spot flaws already at the start; and someone may have just sent you on a wild goose chase. Those show-offs only gratify their egos, they suppose… amusing themselves at the cost of another. Often it is better to say ‘I do not know’ then to speculate or affirmatively declare words filled with doubt. So here is the power of words that can even kill.
After many years of meeting folks and hearing them speak I can spot quality of a person and their words. I do not judge because I know, I see, I smell and deduce faster than anyone else can. It takes practice, which eventually bears fruit. The practice in the heavenly truth creates a filter, which when applied; on all things in life; will reveal the earthly positive or negative truth. Discernment is just a start after which comes the actual knowledge. We are admonished to not judge, because we do not know, but when we know we have to judge (righteously); hence the difference in words we convey.
Jesus said [Matthew 7:1], “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.” Then comes the explanation: [John 8:16-18] “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. [17] “Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. [18] “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”
In a similar way Apostle Paul stated two opinions.
[Romans 14:10] But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
[1 Corinthians 5:3; 12-13] For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. [12] For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? [13] But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
We do not know if actions followed or not, but words were given. Nonetheless, judging from ignorance is not advisable, but judging from actual knowing is. One deals with assumptions while the other with God’s righteousness.
Discernment opens another door, which is prophetic. Jesus said [John 16:13] “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”
“He will disclose to you what is to come.” Powerful words. He the Holy Spirit can turn you into a prophet by disclosing to you what is and is still to come. Only the Light of Truth can reveal anything hidden in deviousness. Many hate the light because they have played with darkness for so long that the light blinds them.
[John 3:20-21] “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
Elijah the prophet spoke these words, [1 Kings 21:19] ‘Thus says the LORD, “In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.”’”
Jezebel conspired against Naboth; killed him and stole his property. Ahab did not object to it, although the king knew all the details of the evilness. God’s righteous indignation was so severe that He sent His prophet to pronounce words of judgment upon the entire house of Ahab.
After no repentance followed; in the fullness of time; the cup of wickedness was full and about to be spilled.
[2 Kings 9:33-37] He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her under foot. [34] When he came in, he ate and drank; and he said, “See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king’s daughter.” [35] They went to bury her, but they found nothing more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. [36] Therefore they returned and told him. And he said, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘In the property of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; [37] and the corpse of Jezebel will be as dung on the face of the field in the property of Jezreel, so they cannot say, “This is Jezebel.”’”