Bible Society of South Africa

How to Live – Day 3

Lips that Speak the Truth.

Se(di)ngolwa (t)sa Bibele

MAELE 4

24Se bue leshano ka molomo wa hao,

puo tse thetsang

di se tswe ka hanong la hao.

MAELE 4:24SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

Pesalema 12

3Batho ba bolellana mashano,

maleme a bona a monate,

empa ke bo-temepedi.

4Morena a ke a fedise bohle,

bohle ba maleme a monate,

le bohle ba melomo e ikakasang,

Pesalema 12:3-4SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

Pesalema 78

36Ba ne ba ye ba mo qekise

ka melomo ya bona,

ba mo thetse ka maleme a bona;

37athe ba ne ba sa tshepahale,

ba sa tshepahale ho yena,

ba sa tshepahale selekaneng sa hae.

Pesalema 78:36-37SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

BAEFESE 4

Melao ya bophelo bo botjha

25Ka baka leo, tlohelang leshano, motho ka mong a bue nnete le wa bo, hobane re ditho tsa mmele o le mong.

BAEFESE 4:25SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

JAKOBO 3

11Na mohloding o le mong wa sediba ho ke ho kolle metsi a monate le metsi a babang?

JAKOBO 3:11SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

BAKOLOSE 4

6Kamehla dipolelo tsa lona e be tse mosa, tse nokilweng ka letswai, mme le ithute ho araba motho ka mong hantle.

BAKOLOSE 4:6SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

Pesalema 12

6Morena o re:

“Ka baka la ho tujwa ha bahlophehi,

le la ho dumaela ha mafutsana,

jwale ke kena dipakeng;

ke tla ba fa pholoho

eo ba e hloretseng.”

Pesalema 12:6SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

Smooth talkers let words flow like a ball of wool unrolling. They succeed in making people laugh until they cry, with the wit and humour of their stories. Exaggerated stories by hunters about three buck being shot with one bullet; or Rubber, the mongrel dog, who flipped 180 degrees in the air when he spotted a lion, are eaten like hot cakes as the truth.

These types of stories have their place around the campfire, but in our daily dealings with people other principles apply. So seriously did David feel about lies, flattery, duplicity and boasting that he wished: “May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue – those who say, ‘By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us – who is lord over us?” (Psalm 12:3-4).

Vine’s Dictionary explains that the contents of such discussions are perverse – the truth is biased, corrupted and distorted and changed to mean the opposite.

God was also not spared in the flood of insincere words. Asaph said of Israel: “But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.” (Psalm 78:36-37) No wonder that a father gave the following advice to his son; “Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.” (Proverbs 4:24)

There is one word that describes the nature of words that must come from our mouths: Truth (Ephesians 4:25). What imagery can describe it better than a fountain flowing with fresh water (James 3:11) or words seasoned with salt? (Colossians 4:6) Clean, sweet water quenches your thirst and freshly ground salt adds taste to your food.

We will do ourselves a favour if before we speak we remind ourselves of the nature of our Father’s words: “And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.” (Psalm 12:6)

You may find yourself in a situation where you are the victim of twisted truths or a victim of blatant lies and false stories that are being spread about you. Do not fall into the trap of launching a counter-attack with your tongue. Allow the One whose words are refined and pure, to fight your cause.

If you are perhaps the person who is damaging someone else’s integrity with scurrilous talk, the time has come for you to pray this prayer: Father help me to keep falsehood and wrongdoing from my mouth and lips. I want truth to govern my tongue.

Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.9
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