Proverbs 15:23 (New King James Version)
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A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
Proverbs 15:23 (New King James Version)
Share Audio
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
Saying Just the Right Thing at Just the Right Time! Proverbs 15:23
A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! Proverbs 15:23
Don’t you love it when you say the right thing – in the right way – at just the right time? That is what our proverb is about today. It is about being wise enough to know when to speak – and not only that – but what to speak when you have the opportunity.
The beginning of this proverb starts with a Hebraism about the mouth. There is joy in having an answer of the mouth, which the way that this Hebraism would read. It has to do with the ability to speak well – or in this case to speak what helps others. When speaking of Moses’ complaint to God about his inability to speak, this similar Hebraism is used. Moses complained to God that he had a “heavy mouth.” This meant that he stuttered and stammered when he spoke. This speech problem made Moses think he could not be a spokesman for God. God gave him Aaron to speak for him, but we see plainly that Moses did not struggle to speak when the Spirit of God moved upon him to confront Pharaoh. The mouth of the man here in proverbs knows no such problem. He brings joy to others as they here the “answer of his mouth,” which means the perfect thing to say in the moment. Whether this is a word of teaching, reproof, correction, or training in righteousness – the best word to speak is one that is in agreement with God’s Word on the matter.
The prophet Nathan spoke the perfect word to David to bring him to repentance over his adultery and cover-up of his sin. Joshua spoke the perfect word to the people of Israel as they needed to decide whether they would serve the Lord. David spoke the perfect word to Goliath to remind him that God was going to give David victory because of Goliath’s mocking of God. Daniel had the perfect words to speak to Nebuchadnezzar when he needed his dream interpretted. Jesus always had the perfect word to speak to detractors, to those who were hungry for his Word, and to those who came to Him needy and longing for God’s grace and healing.
A timely word is delightful – both to the one who speaks it and to the one who receives it. There are so many who come to church hurting who need to hear such words. They long for a word of encouragement – for someone to lift them up. Others who are complacent and full of themselves need rebuke. Others still may need exhortation because they are timid about following the Lord radically. And a few who are long term church members, but who do not know Christ, need someone to love them by sharing the gospel with them so they can move from just being religious – to being Christians. No matter what the need, God will give us these “answers of the mouth.” He will do so as we surrender to Him and desire far more to speak the truth in love – than just to engage in small talk
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth
When his advice is asked, and he gives good and wholesome counsel, and that being taken succeeds; it is a pleasure to a man that he is capable of assisting his friend, and doing him service, or a common good, whether it be in things natural, civil, or religious; when his speech is with salt, seasoned with grace, and he knows how he ought to answer every man; when that which is good proceeds from him, and is to the use of edifying, and ministers grace to the hearers, and is acceptable to them; when with readiness he gives an answer to every man that asks him a reason of the hope that is in him, with meekness and fear, ( Colossians 3:6 ) ( Ephesians 4:29 ) ( 1 Peter 3:15 ) ; and a word [spoken] in due season, how good [is it]?
whether by way of advice and counsel to such who stand in need of it, or of exhortation and instruction to those that want it, or of comfort to those that are distressed; such is a word of promise spoken and applied by the Spirit of God to the hearts of his people in a time of need; and such is the Gospel of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation, as spoken by Christ and his ministers to weary and wounded souls; it cannot be well and fully expressed how sweet, how good, how suitable, as well as seasonable, it is: see ( Proverbs 25:11 ) ( Isaiah 50:4 ) .
Proverbs 15:23 (New King James Version)
Share Audio
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
Saying Just the Right Thing at Just the Right Time! Proverbs 15:23
2/7/2012
A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! Proverbs 15:23
Don’t you love it when you say the right thing – in the right way – at just the right time? That is what our proverb is about today. It is about being wise enough to know when to speak – and not only that – but what to speak when you have the opportunity.
The beginning of this proverb starts with a Hebraism about the mouth. There is joy in having an answer of the mouth, which the way that this Hebraism would read. It has to do with the ability to speak well – or in this case to speak what helps others. When speaking of Moses’ complaint to God about his inability to speak, this similar Hebraism is used. Moses complained to God that he had a “heavy mouth.” This meant that he stuttered and stammered when he spoke. This speech problem made Moses think he could not be a spokesman for God. God gave him Aaron to speak for him, but we see plainly that Moses did not struggle to speak when the Spirit of God moved upon him to confront Pharaoh. The mouth of the man here in proverbs knows no such problem. He brings joy to others as they here the “answer of his mouth,” which means the perfect thing to say in the moment. Whether this is a word of teaching, reproof, correction, or training in righteousness – the best word to speak is one that is in agreement with God’s Word on the matter.
The prophet Nathan spoke the perfect word to David to bring him to repentance over his adultery and cover-up of his sin. Joshua spoke the perfect word to the people of Israel as they needed to decide whether they would serve the Lord. David spoke the perfect word to Goliath to remind him that God was going to give David victory because of Goliath’s mocking of God. Daniel had the perfect words to speak to Nebuchadnezzar when he needed his dream interpretted. Jesus always had the perfect word to speak to detractors, to those who were hungry for his Word, and to those who came to Him needy and longing for God’s grace and healing.
A timely word is delightful – both to the one who speaks it and to the one who receives it. There are so many who come to church hurting who need to hear such words. They long for a word of encouragement – for someone to lift them up. Others who are complacent and full of themselves need rebuke. Others still may need exhortation because they are timid about following the Lord radically. And a few who are long term church members, but who do not know Christ, need someone to love them by sharing the gospel with them so they can move from just being religious – to being Christians. No matter what the need, God will give us these “answers of the mouth.” He will do so as we surrender to Him and desire far more to speak the truth in love – than just to engage in small talk
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth
When his advice is asked, and he gives good and wholesome counsel, and that being taken succeeds; it is a pleasure to a man that he is capable of assisting his friend, and doing him service, or a common good, whether it be in things natural, civil, or religious; when his speech is with salt, seasoned with grace, and he knows how he ought to answer every man; when that which is good proceeds from him, and is to the use of edifying, and ministers grace to the hearers, and is acceptable to them; when with readiness he gives an answer to every man that asks him a reason of the hope that is in him, with meekness and fear, ( Colossians 3:6 ) ( Ephesians 4:29 ) ( 1 Peter 3:15 ) ; and a word [spoken] in due season, how good [is it]?
whether by way of advice and counsel to such who stand in need of it, or of exhortation and instruction to those that want it, or of comfort to those that are distressed; such is a word of promise spoken and applied by the Spirit of God to the hearts of his people in a time of need; and such is the Gospel of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation, as spoken by Christ and his ministers to weary and wounded souls; it cannot be well and fully expressed how sweet, how good, how suitable, as well as seasonable, it is: see ( Proverbs 25:11 ) ( Isaiah 50:4 ) .
A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! Proverbs 15:23
Don’t you love it when you say the right thing – in the right way – at just the right time? That is what our proverb is about today. It is about being wise enough to know when to speak – and not only that – but what to speak when you have the opportunity.
The beginning of this proverb starts with a Hebraism about the mouth. There is joy in having an answer of the mouth, which the way that this Hebraism would read. It has to do with the ability to speak well – or in this case to speak what helps others. When speaking of Moses’ complaint to God about his inability to speak, this similar Hebraism is used. Moses complained to God that he had a “heavy mouth.” This meant that he stuttered and stammered when he spoke. This speech problem made Moses think he could not be a spokesman for God. God gave him Aaron to speak for him, but we see plainly that Moses did not struggle to speak when the Spirit of God moved upon him to confront Pharaoh. The mouth of the man here in proverbs knows no such problem. He brings joy to others as they here the “answer of his mouth,” which means the perfect thing to say in the moment. Whether this is a word of teaching, reproof, correction, or training in righteousness – the best word to speak is one that is in agreement with God’s Word on the matter.
The prophet Nathan spoke the perfect word to David to bring him to repentance over his adultery and cover-up of his sin. Joshua spoke the perfect word to the people of Israel as they needed to decide whether they would serve the Lord. David spoke the perfect word to Goliath to remind him that God was going to give David victory because of Goliath’s mocking of God. Daniel had the perfect words to speak to Nebuchadnezzar when he needed his dream interpretted. Jesus always had the perfect word to speak to detractors, to those who were hungry for his Word, and to those who came to Him needy and longing for God’s grace and healing.
A timely word is delightful – both to the one who speaks it and to the one who receives it. There are so many who come to church hurting who need to hear such words. They long for a word of encouragement – for someone to lift them up. Others who are complacent and full of themselves need rebuke. Others still may need exhortation because they are timid about following the Lord radically. And a few who are long term church members, but who do not know Christ, need someone to love them by sharing the gospel with them so they can move from just being religious – to being Christians. No matter what the need, God will give us these “answers of the mouth.” He will do so as we surrender to Him and desire far more to speak the truth in love – than just to engage in small talk
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
We always want to be a leader, voice and positive encourager though we don’t always have the right words but when we do everyone who is involved finds joy and comfort in such blessing every encouraging word spoken in the right time is bliss pray for the right words to speak and practice being an encourager God will fill your heart at the right time for the right words
Living Water Ministries 