It is interesting how words work. They are like a bullet, once they have left the chamber, nothing can be done to stop them. All you can do is hope that you are a bad shot and you miss your intended target. Or pray that your target didn't hear what you had to say. The Lord hears everything, however. In fact the Lord uses Solomon to convey this message in the next few verses.
"In the multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent." Proverbs 10:19, Amplified
Have you ever noticed that the one who is guilty cannot seem to keep his mouth shut at times? The guilty party always seems to want to embellish his or her story. I feel, however, that Solomon may be on to something different here. There is a person that gets under my skin so much that I just cannot stand it. He is the one that has to suffix every sentence or thought. The person who feels that it is necessary to say, "And that's the truth," or "Honest to God," "You can trust me," or even "If I'm lying I'm dying." As Christians, we should never have a need to add anything more to our truth, it should just be.
This would be the prudent man. Earlier in this study in the book of Proverbs we found that being prudent meant that we acted or showed thought toward the future. The prudent man will not interject anymore into his thoughts and words than is needed. He has the ability to restrain his own lips because he knows the truth, and the truth dwells within him.
"The tongue of those who are upright and in right standing with God is as choice silver, the mind of those who are wicked and out of harmony with God is of little value." Proverbs 10:20, Amplified
What the prudent allows to leave his lips will bless those around him. Those who have a walk with the Lord and are in right standing with Him have choice words to share. In fact, Solomon likens their words to choice silver. Why not gold? Is not gold more valuable than silver? Even in Solomon's time this was the case, gold has always been more valuable than silver. So why then would Solomon choose to liken the tongue of the righteous to silver? Silver is a picture of redemption. In the book of Exodus in chapter 30 when everyone was bringing items for the building of the Tabernacle, all the men were to bring a half shekel of silver for being numbered. It was called a ransom (Exodus 30:12) and atonement money (Exodus 30:16).
However, the mind of the wicked has little value to anyone else because it is so self absorbed. This value placed on the mind of the wicked is solely based on their lack of ability to think of others needs. A fire extinguisher has value to many people because it has the ability to save many lives even though it will spend a great amount of time just hanging on a wall. If proper care is taken of the extinguisher, then it will be of use to any and all who have to use it. The mind of the wicked will never amount to anything more than a spiritual paper weight.
"The lips of the [uncompromisingly] righteous feed and guide many; but fools die for want of understanding and heart." Proverbs 10:21, Amplified
The lips of the righteous man have the ability to feed many. This feeding is strictly speaking about the spiritual. Words cannot fill empty bellies. Jesus, in His time here on the earth, blessed bread and fish and fed over 5,000 in a single day, but He never spoke a word to fill a stomach. The words that our Lord spoke were meant to fill empty hearts. We should have the same mindset as well. Our goal in life should be to fill the heart of everyone we pass. And if we cannot fill them, then we must guide them to the feast. Invite them to a church service or a Bible study.
However, the fool will die because he has no understanding. His mind is so self absorbed that he can neither give of himself nor can he receive anything.
The foolish man retreats within himself and dies whereas the wise man runs to the Lord and lives.
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