Bringing forth a Well of Life

The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,

But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:11

The picture a well of life means less in modern culture than it did at the time this proverb was written.  We may never be so far from clean fresh water that we are in the least bit of danger.  That difference is key in understanding how valuable the mouth of a righteous person has become.  Because while water may be very easy for us to come by, a person who is in right standing with God, growing with Him, and speaking words of wisdom is as difficult to come across as ever!  A well of life was rare, a fresh well was a refreshment to the thirsty, and it could mean the lively hood for an entire community.  This is a rich comparison as the person who is in right standing with God through Jesus Christ.  The person who is growing in Christ offers just these things to the world: refreshment, peace, satisfaction and the hope of life.  By contrast the wicked mouth is marked by violence.  Conflict and dishonesty are the destructive forces that cause a person and a community to starve to death.  In considering our daily speech is it most characterized by the image of a “well of life” or is it characterized by violence and conflict?

Wisdom and the Babbling Buffoon

The wise in heart will receive commands,

But a prating fool will fall.

Proverbs 10:8

I love the phrase “prating fool”.  Sadly because it so frequently describes me.  The idea is of a fool who is babbling.  In some areas of the country we might call this the fellow who is “running his mouth”. This is fascinating as our culture seems to value one who talks over the one who remains silent.  He book of proverbs has so much to say about wise speech and about controlled speech  and even about silence, but the reality that running the spigot doesn't

 Change the nature of what is coming out of the well.  Wisdom listens and seeks to understand, foolishness babbles without even having understanding as a distant goal.  As we could rightly expect, both choices have their natural consequences.