334. VIOLENCE ON THE LIPS

(The Information & Edification Series – Batch 12)

Without a doubt, violence on the lips comes from malice in the heart. The fact that I’ve used the word “violence” may shock you, as this word is often associated with grievous physical acts inflicted by one person or more on another. We see the word as more appropriate when referring to criminals, wicked men and women, who deliberately aim to kill people or to seriously harm them. When we think of violence, we think of Cain in the Bible who killed his brother Abel due to jealousy because his offering was rejected of God, while Abel’s offering was accepted. In 1 John 3:11-12, we are familiar with the scripture that speaks of the incident and that Cain, that violent, ungodly, evil man, killed his brother because he hated him. We know the admonition, where the scripture reads:

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.“

Yet, do you know that the Bible uses the word “violence” not just in relation to physical acts of brutality against another person’s body but also in relation to what we do with our lips? The Bible makes it clear that violence refers not just to physically detrimental acts but those that we set out to do with our mouths in the form of gossip, badmouthing and criticism, aimed at doing damage to or destroying a person’s character, reputation and estimation in the eyes of others. Such words come from a desire to do the person harm, to cut him or her down and while we cannot murder the person physically with our hands, we do the next best thing: We murder him or her with our words.

This speaks of a heart condition. For, it is often motivated by feelings of jealousy, competitiveness, envy, insecurity, selfishness, dissatisfaction or discontentment with one’s own life, resentment, unforgiveness for a perceived wrong or an intense dislike or hatred for that person, even when we do not know why. The animosity or intense dislike that we harbour towards the person may be as simple as we don’t like how he or she walks or talks or looks or how he or she dresses or how popular he or she is or because he or she appears to be too successful in life or too chirpy or too joyful all the time when we are not or too full of faith or too full of confidence or some other similar reason.

The deep-seated wickedness in our heart towards that person, where we wish him or her evil, hurt, disgrace, stagnancy in life, shame and nothing good and therefore think the worst of that person (even without proper facts), enjoy and take great delight in his or her pain, struggles or anything bad that we hear about him or her, then comes out in our speech.

We may couch it in different ways so that we can delude ourselves into believing that we are good people, justify our actions and convince ourselves that what we are doing is not evil or not really bad but the Word of God has already removed the cloak from over our hearts, revealing our true intentions. He has told us clearly in his Word that our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked; Not just wicked but desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Left to ourselves, even as professing believers, if we choose to walk in the flesh and not in the spirit as we ought (Galatians 5:16), we then fulfill the lusts of the flesh, including a desire to hurt, mock at and put down others that we envy, despise or harbour intense inner dislike or disdain for.

In Matthew 12:34-37, Jesus stated:

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.“

On the topic of violence, the Bible makes it clear how God feels about it, particularly violence on the lips. The Word of God states:

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate…The mouth of the righteous man is a well of life: but VIOLENCE covereth the mouth of the wicked…In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding…The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.” (Proverbs 9:13; 10:11,13, 32)

“The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth VIOLENCE his soul hateth.” (Psalm 11:5)

“Blessings are upon the head of the just: but VIOLENCE covereth the mouth of the wicked. The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot…The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but VIOLENCE covereth the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction…He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom… It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.” (Proverbs 10:6-7,11-14, 18-21;23)

“A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat VIOLENCE. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.” (Proverbs 13:1-2)

Given how God feels about those who are violent against others with their tongues, it is no wonder that in Psalm 140:1-13, David associated the evil speaking that others were doing against him with VIOLENCE. He prayed:

“Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the VIOLENT man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the VIOLENT man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah. I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord. O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah. As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again. Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the VIOLENT man to overthrow him. I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.”

In Psalm 55:1-3,9-16 and 21-23, David similarly prayed:

“Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me…Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen VIOLENCE and strife in the city. Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me…The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.”

In meditating on these verses, it dawned on me that sometimes we may ask the question “Why are so many bad things happening to us? Why am I being made to go through so much?” or “Why is my family experiencing so much turbulence?” This could be due to different reasons but we must tell ourselves in a self-examination and introspective process “Check your speech. Have you been like the person mentioned in Proverbs 24:2 which states “For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief“? Have you been putting down others with your mouth?

Have you been like Shimei who cursed David with his lips and going around like a busybody or making mischief within your family circle, saying all manner of evil about another person you dislike or envy? Worse yet, is that person a professing believer and therefore, if genuine, someone that God loves dearly and will fight for with acts of vengeance against all those who position themselves as that person’s enemy and wickedly so?

Have you been like Peninnah was to Hannah and using your lips to the person or to others about the person, to mock him or her and to rejoice in his or her misfortune? If so, then you can expect that God would requite it.

Have you been couching your wickedness under the guise of concern or empty religious piousness? This does not work because the Lord Jesus whose eyes are like a flaming fire (Revelation 1:14), sees the true motive and intent of your heart when you do the things you do and say the things you say. You may fool yourself and others but not him. Hebrews 4:13 soberingly states “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

In Psalm 10:8-15, the Psalmist stated of the wicked, including those who chose to do evil against others with their mouth:

“He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he MURDER the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. Thou hast seen it; for THOU BEHOLDEST MISCHIEF AND SPITE, TO REQUITE IT WITH THY HAND: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.”

In Micah 6:12-15, the prophet, speaking God’s words stated:

“For the rich men thereof are full of VIOLENCE, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins. Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword. Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.”

In Psalm 5:4-6 and 9, David rightly states of God:

“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man…For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchure; they flatter with their tongue.”

In Psalm 31:1-4 and 13-21, David again prays to God about those wickedly using their lips to try to destroy his reputation. Having full confidence in God though that he would right every wrong and vindicate him, while shaming them in the process, he stated:

“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength…For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake. Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.”

(Written on 8th March, 2026, added to thereafter)

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