Tale of Two Tongues

As we continue walking the Way of Jesus, we come to a fork in the road… or actually a fork in our tongue.

One of my readings today was from the ancient Hebrew poet and prophet, Isaiah, from chapter 50 specifically. It offers us our first tongue:

The Divine has given me

a well-taught tongue,

So I know how to encourage tired people.

He wakes me up in the morning,

Wakes me up, opens my ears

to listen as one ready to take orders. (verse 4)

Other translations speak of being given a well instructed tongue, a learned or wise tongue. And this gift given is for the encouragement and strengthening of those who are weary. Beautiful.

And we can contrast this with the Hebrew phrase, LaShon Hara, which means the evil tongue. So a second tongue. And this is used to tear down or slander, to cause evil to others. Also, this evil done is not through lies, rather it is using the truth as a weapon to cut down or shame a person.

Yikes.

And to the Hebrew people, LaShon Hara is a vicious sin.

It’s a tale of two tongues… or maybe you could say we possess a forked tongue.

Which offers us a choice. Will we use our fork to feed the weary, or will we use our fork to fry someone? We have been given a gift, but how we use it is up to us. Which way will we choose?

Friends, may you speak with kindness and goodness. May you unwrap the brilliant gift given you, and may you offer grace, compassion, and a feast of encouragement to those around you.