"THE PURPOSE OF THE TONGUE"
| The people whom I created for Myself
should declare My praise," wrote the prophet Isaiah. Therefore the Rabbis
have taught that the purpose of the tongue is to elevate the level of
holiness in our world by communicating the greatness, the presence and the
character of God through our words as His children. The mouth, the use of our tongue, is where the exercise of our free will is MOST evident. When we choose to use this tongue which God created for holiness to speak words that glorify or please self instead of Him, words that demean others rather than lift them up, we demonstrate not our cleverness, but our carnality. Our tongue becomes in these instances like a chair without a seat, a car without a motor, a pen without ink – that is, it fails to do what it was created for! Ancient Rabbinic writings teach that heavenly justice is harsh for those who judge others harshly but those who train themselves in compassion and understanding win the favor of God for themselves. Once again, we find this teaching echoed in the New Testament: "For judgment {will be} merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." Ya’acov (James) 2:13 And in the words of Yeshua: "Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Matt. 7:1-3 Words of judgment toward others roll off our tongues often without our even thinking what we are saying, yet God takes it seriously. How we need to learn compassion, mercy and understanding that we may find it ourselves from our heavenly Father.
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