Well, good morning. A number of you have noticed that I’m wearing glasses up here on the platform and wondered why. It’s a simple answer: I can’t see very well. [laughter] I discovered that around Easter that I was struggling to read and lead you in worship, and so I thought, mmm, maybe it’s time for glasses. Another sign of aging.
Well, Kevin, as you know, is in the UK and will not be back today or this evening, but in his absence it’s my great privilege to bring you God’s Word this morning.
I am known to say often that the Bible is the only book I know that comprehensively explains life in a fallen world as I experience it. I am also known to say that the Bible is the only book I know that provides a remedy for life in a fallen world as I experience it. And with that in mind, we are spending a large part of this summer in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs meets us where we life, 24/7. It’s remarkably practical. It anticipates the realities of life in a fallen world and meets them head on. The proverbs were relevant in Solomon’s day and they remain relevant in our time, as well, for good reason, because the heart of man has not changed.
Despite all its remarkable cultural and technological progress, man has not been able to solve his ultimate problem that hinders and corrupts everything else that he accomplishes. That problem is sin, of course, and man’s sin can only and ultimately be addressed in a comprehensive and lasting way through the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. And that’s why the Scriptures, including Proverbs, are forever relevant and valuable to the Christian.
We’ve already looked to Proverbs for a diagnosis and a remedy for a redemptive way forward for such things as anger and conflict and business ethics. We’ll be looking at other important topics that Proverbs addresses in coming weeks, but this morning it’s my task to address a critical matter that is spoken of throughout Proverbs and the rest of Scripture. It’s an issue that I and the other pastors deal with routinely in our pastoral counseling, and as we will see the Lord has strong opinions on the matter and issues frequent warning to us to heed, and I’m speaking, of course, of our speech. The words that we use day in and day out, which as we will see in Proverbs, have great power, either to give live or to take life.
If you’ve been a member of Christ Covenant for a long time, you may remember that I spoke to the power of our words some years ago, so why would I bring it up again? I have several reasons.
First, one of the consequences of the fall is that we quickly forget what we’ve heard and know. Forgetfulness was a great problem for ancient Israel, but it’s our problem, too. The apostles knew this, and so they were quick to remind the early disciples of what they already knew. Here’s how the Apostle Peter addresses this challenge in his second epistle, 2 Peter 1, verse 12: “Therefore,” Peter writes, “I intend always to remind you of these qualities though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. Think it right as long as I am in this body to stir you up by way of reminder. Since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.” Anticipating his martyrdom, Peter thought it urgent and necessary to remind the disciples of the truths that they had already been established in. It wasn’t…
If that weren’t enough, just two chapters later, he does it again. Chapter 3 of 2 Peter, verse 1, he writes: “This is now the second later that I’m writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.”
