Apples and Earrings of Gold

(Prov. 25:11, 12)

I continue to consider this thought.  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.  We look to speak words that will edify, that will encourage, that bring life.  I don’t believe it is necessary to say but we ought not say everything that comes to mind.  When we find ourselves in an argument and the heat is rising, we often do best to simply shut up.  So often we add fuel to the fire.  We can destroy relationships and set wars in motion through words.  James warns us of this. See James 3:5 & 6.

On the other hand, words flowing from the Holy Spirit, can set hearts ablaze for Christ.  Jesus spoke words that brought life.  He also hid parts of His message to draw men to the truth.  I am thinking of the parables and how Jesus addressed those blind in self-righteousness.  That is the heart, the foundation of “religion”.  We think we can justify ourselves before God by some self-initiated behavior.  We revert to outward behavior.  We bring a “sacrifice” to God that He did not call for, or initiate.  To such people, Jesus spoke an indirect message in parables.  He also performed works beyond the natural realm.  Along with the miracles, He spoke the truth.  In this He was seen by many as a prophet.  He is that and so very much more than that.  He spoke words that were initiated by His Father.

His words flow perfectly in the Spirit.  And I write without presumption, but in faith, as led by the same Spirit.  If that sounds prideful, it is not.  It is in humility, and in obedience to what the Lord directly spoke to me and led me.  He has specifically called me to pray, and to write.  I have been listening to Him and sitting at His feet for 45 years.  And as many have been called to ministry, I too have been called and chosen to do what He directs me to do.  Be careful to stay in the place of listening.  We too easily slide off into side streams.  A brother recently said to me, “Stay in your lane.”  He delivered it as encouragement, and yet it has a corrective aspect.  Jesus Himself said He was sent to the lost sheep of the house (family) of Israel.  He stayed mostly within those specific boundaries.  He never went to Rome Himself.

We are all in different stages of relationship and true spiritual growth.  We need to give others room to grow.  If we are in a prayer meeting, and someone’s prayer is not as aligned as we are with His purposes, don’t always correct them.  Pray for their spiritual growth.  As you may have opportunity, encourage them in the truth.  We must be patient, forgiving.  Ultimately, we are not their Father.  Our Father sees them and knows them in a way we don’t, and never will.  I have been corrected sometimes rightly and sometimes not.  I have learned to ask the Lord about it so that I get the real message.  He is the only perfect teacher but we still learn from each other as well.

My words are expressions of the truth in the Bible.  When I speak to the Lord’s people, I only want to speak what is of and from, the Lord.  Will my words always be perfect?  Only One speaks the truth perfectly.  The apostles who wrote the gospels and the letters had close spiritual walks with the Lord.  He desires that for all of us.  The words that the Lord Himself, in that still (quiet) small voice, would speak to us are apples of gold.  If what we think does not line up with what’s written we should question those thoughts.  When something is called gold it is divine.  It’s from God.  It has His life in it.  It produces goodness, righteousness, in the one who hears and receives it.  It brings faith.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by a word of God.  And that is the rhema, the spoken, the uttered word of God.  This is spiritual speech, and it has at times been physically heard.  I am thinking of the very voice of God.

So the apples of gold are those words that are from God.  Jesus said I only speak the things that my Father speaks.  He spent much time in prayer, in communication with His Father.  He was perfectly in tune with His Father.  He would by His Spirit lead us into such a walk. The rest of that proverb refers to these words as set in silver.  That picture makes me think of a sculpture with golden apples and a border, a frame, of silver.  Or perhaps it’s like a ring, where in place of diamonds, we have golden apples.  The setting is pure silver.  It’s a beautiful picture.  Silver represents redemption.  The words of God that bring His life are framed with His redemption.

The Beauty and Value of a Timely Word

(Prov. 25:11)

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.  These words sank deeply into me many years ago.  Recently I recalled them with great appreciation.  I would say I relished them in my spirit.  My inner man is refreshed by the wisdom they impart.  So this word reflects on itself a glory from God as it speaks about words.  Consider the times you heard exactly what you needed to hear from Him.  Perhaps through a preacher, a teacher, a brother, sister, or even a stranger.  I know a song by David Brymer, and it begins, “Your words are spirit, Your words are life.”  See John 6:63.  He was singing of the words that are spoken to us by the Lord Jesus.

In the writings of the disciples and apostles, two Greek words are used for our English, “word”.  One is logos, and one is rhema.  That second word refers to more than information about something.  It is communicated person to person in relationship, a spoken word that one hears.  That is God’s intent, to communicate directly to each of us.  Jesus said, “Let him who has ears to hear, hear.”  We must be attentive and take that word in.  It is important.  In fact it is life, Jesus said.  He knew exactly what to say in every situation.  He only spoke what He heard the Father say.  I don’t believe this was robotic but I do believe it was directed.

Having said this, I warn us that not every thought we have is from the Lord.  A favorite bumper sticker I have seen reads, “Don’t believe everything you think.”  So true!  The logos, the logical, informational word of God which includes the Bible, the written word, is so important for our lives.  Jesus resisted the lying thoughts from the enemy by using words written by Moses and the prophets.  I think that creation also is a part of the logos we have from God.  The heavens declare the glory of God, the psalmist wrote.  Normal everyday responsibilities and the world around us can express God’s truth as well.

I sometimes have a thought to share but often I pause and listen in my spirit to the Lord, whether to proceed.  I may be overly cautious but it is far better to have our tongues submitted to the Spirit then just talk.  Recently, I read a discussion of verbal communication.  It said the actual words used were 7% of the message and that 55% was tonality.  Our attitude comes through facial expression, body language and our tone of voice.  Jesus, said that we speak out of the content of our hearts.  As we spend time with our Father, our Abba, our Daddy, we will live and speak by His Spirit.  In His presence we are transformed so that even our words will be His.  Twice in the prophets, the Lord says, “I have put my words in your mouth.” (Is. 51:16, Jer. 1:9, also Is. 59:21)  Of Moses, it is written that he knew the Lord face-to-face and mouth to mouth.  Do not corrupt what is spiritual with an earthly thought.  The meaning concerning Moses is the same as with Isaiah and Jeremiah.  We are drawn to know the Lord intimately.  Go back and read all of John 6:63.

So as the Lord has put His words in us and they become our life, our walk, we can speak His words with authority.  As a pastor and brother, David Wagner, has said, “If you have a testimony of Jesus, you can prophesy.”  By prophesy, it simply means to speak God’s words.  It must be with authority or it will fall to the ground, that is have no effect on the listener.  We can learn to parrot what others speak but I have learned that we must digest the words Christ speaks to us.  That is meditation.  We process what the Lord speaks in the spirit of our mind.  That is where we are renewed and transformed.  Jesus spoke about us keeping His commands, His words.  Hold them fast, eat them.  Allow those words to become part of you and walk them out.  Live in obedience to them.  Let them light your way and direct your path.

By that process, the word will become flesh in and through you, and like the first-born Son, you will live and speak more as a son of your Father in heaven.  Jesus always spoke accurately and with authority.  He spoke the words that He knew from His Father.  So it will be with us who follow Him.  We seek to stay close, to abide, to be aligned and refined by His Spirit.  It is His desire also, and was His intent before you knew Him.  As you learn of Him, you too will speak apples of gold in settings of silver.