Shelomith's Son

[RETIREDFAN1]

Shelomith’s Son

 

The lesson today comes from an incident recorded for us in Leviticus. Turn with me if you would to Leviticus and let’s read about it.

Leviticus 24:10-23

Shelomith had married a non-Israelite and it appears that her son took more after his father than his mother. He got into a fight with an Israelite. During the fight he cursed and blasphemed the name of God. For this he was jailed. He wasn’t jailed for fighting but for his language. 

 

Many people today would wonder why because they would see this as justifiable and normal.  For the Israelites, it was a new problem, so they took it to Moses, who in turned asked God. The sentence handed down from God was death. Clearly words matter to God. Cursing and profanity cannot be lightly dismissed.

If you can control your mouth, you can control your actions. James 3:2
 

 

The idea should not be surprising, many things are control by something small.

James 3:3-4
 

The uncontrolled tongue causes great damage.

James 3:5-6

Think how many fights are started by poorly chosen words. Think how many relationships are ruined by running off at the mouth. Think how a person’s view of himself is bruised by listening to others talk about them.

Psalms 140:3-4

It isn’t just mean, hurtful words that are a problem. Words can lead people into sin, such as the words of a seductress.

Proverbs 7:4-5

Words can be used to deceive people or to hide what they are really doing.

Proverbs 29:5

Controlling your mouth isn’t easy.

James 3:7-8

 

We all want to be heard and we want people to know our viewpoint. Sometimes even if that viewpoint cuts them to their core.

 

This doesn’t mean the tongue can’t be controlled.  You have to treat it like a wild animal, you have to treat it like a lion in a circus act. You have to constantly be on guard because you can never assume that you have it mastered.

I Corinthians 10:12

Being Christians, we can’t accept cursing and profanity and think it is normal.

James 3:9-12

When bad is mixed with good, all you have is bad.  People understand this. Here are some famous quotes about it from uninspired men.

“Vulgarity is no substitute for wit” - Violet Crawley

“Profanity is the use of strong words by weak people” - William J. Ward

“If you can’t be interesting without profanity, then let’s face it: you’re not interesting.” - Michael Hyatt
 

Knowing all of this, we must guard the door and not allow these things into our lives.

Psalms 141:3

If we are not careful, we will sin with our mouths.

Psalms 39:1

Claiming to be religious and not controlling your mouth makes your religion useless.

James 1:26

God will judge us by every idle word that comes from our mouth.

Matthew 12:36

Why? Because the words you say when you aren’t being careful about your word choices more often reflects the true you.

Instead of using your words for sin, make your words useful. Use your words to make other people better.

Ephesians 4:29

Use words that God would approve.

Psalms 19:14
 

 

Every one of us can control our words.

Psalms 17:3-5

Every one of us can get rid of the filthy language.

Colossians 3:8

Instead of cursing and profanity, we should season our words with grace.

Colossians 4:6