Robert Houk Hitchcock

Psalm 51:15
   O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
   
   If we're going to open our mouths, why not have praise for God in there?  Seems like everyone is always talking about something, why not talk about God?

Psalm 63:3
   Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

   God is always good to talk about.  His lovingkindness is better than life!  That's a great subject to converse about!

Psalm 63:4-5
   Thus will I bless thee while I live:  I will lift up my hands in thy name.
   My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

   Out Father has certainly filled us and blessed us and satisfied us - no doubt why praise of Him and praise to Him should be on our lips.

Psalm 71:23
   My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

   Rejoicing lips!  Awesome.  Well, He has redeemed us!  That's something to talk about.

Proverbs 16:23-24
   The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
   Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

   The heart of the wise teaches his mouth.  That mouth is important to us for more than one reason.  It's not just to get the best tasting food into our bodies for nourishment or enjoyment.  It's for speaking!  Pleasant words are as an honeycomb.  Not only are they sweet, but they are also health.

   How often do you tire of pleasant words?  "Oh, stop being so darn pleasant!"  No, pleasant words are as an honeycomb and they bring health.  Now, there's something to talk about!

Proverbs 10:19-21
   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.

   Some folks just "run" their mouth.  Well, in the multitude of words there doesn't lack sin.  What we say and what we talk about is important.  It's very important.  The better words are words that praise God.  The better words are words that rejoice.  The better words are words that are pleasant.

Proverbs 14:23
   In all labour there is profit:  but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

   Talk, talk, talk.  You have heard of the "talkers."  Always talking and never doing.  In all labour there is profit!  So, it's not just talk we want, but action, too.  If we're going to talk, why not talk about God and His goodness and talk about pleasant things.

   Our culture is very conditioned by the media (the ultimate "talkers" -- they even have pictures to go along with their "talking.") to focus on all the negatives, hurts, wrongs, etc. in life.  It's easy to be affected by their talking all the negatives all of the time.  You'd be surprised to hear how much people complain all the time (or would you be surprised?)  Complaining is of no benefit.  Taking action, labour, now there's some profit.

Proverbs 18:20-21
   A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
   Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

   Wow!  Did you know that!?  What we talk about must be important, because those words are what we ourselves will be filled with.  We are filled with the increase of our lips.  You want to be all negative?  Keep your eyes open for it because that is what will be heading back your way.

   Death and life are in the power of the tongue!!  Now, that's significant.  It is very easy for harsh words to tear someone to shreds.  Remember the old rhyme, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me?"  Well, guess that's a lie.  Words can indeed hurt, as a matter of fact, they and devastate someone in a matter of seconds.  Just a couple of sentences can really hurt someone.  Remember the pleasant words?  Thy bring health and sweetness.  Now, it's  your choice which kinds of words come out of your mouth.

Proverbs 20:19
   He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets:  therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

   A talebearer is someone that journeys around and talks about people, reveals their secrets.  You've got to have a "lockbox," a place where it is safe for someone to tell you something personal and you keep it there and throw away the key.  Why talk about people all the time, anyway?  Usually those conversations are about people's faults, problems and negatives.

   The old saying that your parents told you is very Biblical:  "If you don't have something nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all."

   Why discuss someone else's problems?  It certainly doesn't edify.  It doesn't bring profit to anyone.  If we have a word about someone, it ought to be "Well, that Joe is a wonderful believer!  He is so loving.  His wife is so gracious.  Their children are terrific."  A wonderful man of God once stated, "Small minds talk about people; average minds talk about events;  great minds talk about God and His Word!"

Psalm 45:2
   Thou art fairer than the children of men:  grace is poured into thy lips:  therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

   Our words can be seasoned with Grace.  Graceful words will build up.  Graceful words are pleasant.  Graceful words are health.  God's Grace is so magnificent that the entire age in which we live is called the Age of Grace,  the Administration of the Grace of God!  Now there's something to talk about!  Talk about being filled with the fulness of God; talk about being seated in the heavenlies; talk about being redeemed, rescued and sanctified; talk about being gathered together at the sound of the trump; talk about the lord Jesus Christ who is our intercessor; talk about the love of Christ which passes knowledge.  Now that's something to talk about.