«[HE] HAS GIVEN ME THE TONGUE OF THE LEARNED»
«The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned» (Isaiah 50:4).
PLUTARCH, the Greek biographer and moralist, attributes this striking statement to Democritus: «Speech is the shadow of deeds.» On the next line, Plutarch mentions the need to speak courteously and affably, and not allow our words to lead us to a Cadmean victory; that is, the kind of victory that does more harm than good, because it causes the victor’s ruin. In other words, if we have «won» a discussion by using an inappropriate tone and rude arguments, then we have lost the chance to attune our words with the actions that adorn the behavior of God’s children.
Since this is no easy matter, Plutarch recommends teaching our children to «bridle the tongue.» Many years before Plutarch, the psalmist said, «l will restrain my mouth with a muzzle» (Psalm 39:1). And the apostle James adds, «Those who con sider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless» (James 1:26, NIV).
Religion, spirituality, or being a Christian is closely linked to our ability to restrain our irrepressible tongue. Words are the vehicle of thoughts, and they reveal whether what’s within us is life or death. The relationship between the Christian life and the tongue is so close that James says that if someone can restrain their tongue, they are «a perfect person» (James 3:2). Can we consider ourselves to be perfect?
I admit I am among those people who struggle daily to align what I say with my faith. And faced with my utter inability, I long for the day when I have the same experience as Isaiah and am able to say, “The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned” (Isaiah 50:4).
The Lord who gave Isaiah “the tongue of the learned” will also give it to each of us if, admitting our need, we ask Him for help and humbly allow Him to help us. When we have “the tongue of the learned,” our words will not defeat anyone, but will encourage and build them up.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Angelica Cuate