Speak Like a Surgeon, Not a Fire Hydrant (Proverbs 15:2)
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Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
Oh man, I really enjoy this verse. It’s a great reminder that the tongue shows and reveals the character and heart of man.
It’s clear from this verse: the wise command their tongue; the fool’s tongue commands him.
‘The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.’
Wisdom is proven and shown, not just by mere acumen, but by its proper use.
The wise don’t just store up knowledge – they speak with purpose.
Look at Jesus in Matthew 4. He’s being tempted by the devil, and what’s wild is the enemy is actually quoting Scripture, saying:
‘“He will command his angels concerning you,”
“On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.”’
Sounds spiritual, right? In a sense it is. But it wasn’t the right use. And Jesus knew that.
That’s why He responds with different Scripture – rightly applied truth. That’s wisdom.
I read a book recently about the many different amazing things neurosurgeons do. I can’t even begin to tell you all that they do. But I do know they have a whole bunch of tools that are useless without proper knowledge of them AND proper use.
The wise are like neurosurgeons in that way. They’re like a surgeon with a scalpel – knowledgeable but also purposeful and precise.
Fools? They’re not like that at all. They’re like a busted fire hydrant – just gushing nonsense everywhere.
I think those contrasts make it clear you can tell a lot about someone by how and what they speak. You will know a man by his tongue.
Again… the wise command their tongue; the fool’s tongue commands them.
So here’s the real question: Who’s in charge – you or your mouth?
Truth is, if we were completely unbiased and honest, we can relate more to the fool described in this verse. We’re more of a broken fire hydrant than a neurosurgeon. But by God’s grace He can and does transform our hearts and our lives, and our speech begins to reflect more of His natural character and not our own.
So let’s bring that to the Lord together.
