Proverbs 18:20

Benefits From Good Speech

 

 

 

A.  A Man’s Belly

 

1. In the Bible times, different parts of the body were often used in a figurative sense, just as we do today.
1. The right hand = a person’s strength
2. The heart = the inner man, not the physical organ
3. The term “belly” is also used in a figurative sense to refer to the inner man… perhaps the conscience.
4. Cf. Prov.20:27 – the Lord searches the inward parts of the belly – not to see what we ate, but to see what we are thinking… meditating on… what’s going on in the inner man.
5. Prov.13:25 – it is used as a synonym for the soul.
6. Prov.18:8 – words go down to the “belly” = emotions.

 

2. It is best to understand belly here in the figurative sense.
1. The literal sense does not make sense.
2. Words don’t fill up our stomach when we are hungry.
3. But Solomon’s point is that words CAN satisfy our inner man.
4. The assumption here is Solomon is speaking about GOOD words that bring satisfaction to soul.
5. We are certainly capable of speaking words that are not so good. That does not bring satisfaction… but good words DO.
6. There are LOTS of warnings in the Bible about the evil use of our tongues and mouths. Here is a description of the GOOD that can come from our mouths.

 

3. What a man SAYS can satisfy him in the inner man…
1. Satisfy: to satiate; to be full and have much; to be content;

                                         i.    Used in Deut. 6:11 = translated “full”

                                        ii.    Just as food satisfies the stomach… makes us full and content, so too the words that we speak can satisfy OUR inner man.

2. And note that Solomon is speaking about the effect of our words on us… not on others.
3. The point is not that our good words can satisfy someone else, but that our words can bring satisfaction to our OWN souls.

 

1. Filled: this is the same word as “satisfied” in the first part of the Proverb.
1. And both sections of the verse speak of the satisfaction of the speaker when good words come out of his mouth.
2. Increase:
1. produce, product, revenue; yield; gain as in harvest;
2. This is virtually a synonym for “fruit” in the first part of the proverb.

 

3. Without question, this proverb is a synonymous parallelism.
1. In fact, there is virtually no difference in meaning… just another way of saying the same thing.
2. Both parts of the proverb use figurative language to describe the effect of our speech.

                                         i.    Solomon speaks of the words that come out of our mouths as if they were seeds…

                                        ii.    And the seed (words) sown (spoken) result in fruit… a harvest… an increase of the field…

                                      iii.    And that harvest satisfies the farmer (the one speaking)

3. Hence, it is best to consider both parts as the same.

 

 

1. Prov. 12:14 – “A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.”

a.   The “fruit of his mouth” refers to the words that come out of his mouth.

b.   The assumption here is that GOOD words come forth.

c.   That man shall be satisfied…

1.   The man who speaks well of others often has people speak well of him.

2.   The man who uses his mouth to encourage others will find that others will encourage him too!

3.   This concept is a different twist on the “you reap what you sow” principle – applied to our speech.

 

2.   Prov.15:1 - For example, Solomon says that a “soft answer turneth away wrath.”

a.   The man who, in the midst of an argument chooses to obey this verse will discover its truth.

b.   Instead of yelling back… or hurling slurs and accusations… he softly replies in words of grace and kindness.

c.   He experiences the GOOD FRUIT of his mouth: the argument subsides… relations are restored.

d.   He avoids the huge explosion that was about to happen.

e.   That brings great satisfaction to his soul.

 

3.   Another example: Prov.15:23 – a man has JOY by the answer of his mouth. Joy satisfies the soul!

 

4. Prov. 10:21 - The lips of the righteous feed many.

a.   Feed = pasture; pasturage; pasturing; bring to pasture – the work of a shepherd.

b.   Good words can feed others and be like medicine in their souls.

c.   But the one who GIVES the good word… the one who feeds others with truth and good words is also satisfied!

d.   Think of the satisfaction that comes to a Sunday School teacher who leads a little to the Lord!

e.   Think of the satisfaction of the brother who speaks words of encouragement to another brother who is ready to throw in the towel… and he repents and gets right with God!

f.    Think of the satisfaction of the one who shares the gospel with a friend at work – and he gets saved!

 

5. Eph.4:29 – we are to speak words that build up our brothers. What great satisfaction comes to the believer who OBEYS God’s Word!

 

6. II Cor. 1: 3-4 – What a sense of satisfaction is ours when God uses us to comfort the afflicted – even one or two words, fitly spoken can be used greatly!

a.   Do you know someone who needs comforting? Use your mouth for good!

b.   Solomon says that not only will the other person benefit – but so will you!

 

7. Prov. 13:2 – “A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.”

a.   This good man EATS of that good fruit.

1.   Eating the fruit of something speaks of “enjoying the benefits” of it.

2.   This figure of speech is taken from every day life in an agricultural society.

3.   The farmer who produces good fruit gets to eat it!

4.   This well known principle is applied to our speech.

 

b.   But notice that the opposite is true as well.

1.   The man who is a transgressor – and sins with his mouth shall also have something to EAT…

2.   He eats violence… the evil fruit from a bad mouth.

3.   The soft answer turns away wrath.

4.   The loud, angry answer stirs UP wrath – and often incites violence!

5.   Someone cuts you off on the highway and you yell at him out your window: “You jerk!” That uncontrolled tongue may cause you to EAT violence – road rage! 

 

8. We personally are greatly affected – for good or bad – by our speech.

a.   When the fruit of our mouths is good fruit as Solomon suggests in this Proverb, we reap a wonderful harvest of rest, peace, contentment, and satisfaction.

b.   But if the fruit is evil… there are serious consequences.

a.   Instead of our inner man being satisfied, he might be feeling ashamed, embarrassed – NOT content!

b.   If the fruit is evil, we will carry along a guilty conscience… which is miserable.

c.   If the fruit is good, we can enjoy a clean conscience… and joy!

d.   There are wonderful PERSONAL benefits from kind and gracious GOOD fruit coming out of our mouths.

e.   But, we should be careful about motive.

a.   Solomon doesn’t mention motive here… this is just a proverb.

a.   We should speak good words for the purpose of edifying and helping OTHERS.

b.   Solomon simply states here that there is a wonderful FRINGE BENEFIT for us: we ourselves are satisfied… deep down in our belly.