22. Purpose of speech.

What is the primary purpose of human speech? We will instantly say its for communication. Rightly so! But then even animals communicate with each other. Human speech has a higher purpose unlike that of other creations. The purposes of human speech are:

1. To create: Since we were made in the image of God, we have been given the ability to influence our surroundings and create our own atmosphere with our words. No animal talks about creating a habitat for themselves, but man does! ‘Now the whole world had one language and a common speech … Men said to each other, “Come, let us build ourselves a city …” – (Genesis 11:1-4) We can create unity, prosperity and healing in our families by our choice of words because ‘the tongue has the power of life and death.’ – (Proverbs 18::21) “The word is very near you, it is in your mouth … I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life …” – (Deuteronomy 30:14-20) We choose with our choice of words as we speak!

2. To communicate: The secondary purpose of speech is to communicate with others our thoughts and visions, just as God first created everything by his Word and then he communicated to man, his vision for mankind. ‘God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”‘ – (Genesis 1:28) But Genesis portrays humans as so ambitious that they tried to compete with, rather than serve, God. Therefore God frustrated their plans by confusing their language at Babel. Being able to understand one another, fosters unity and advancement. God himself said of humans: “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” – (Genesis 11:6) Nothing is impossible for those who speak the same language of faith.

3. To destroy: The world that God created with his Word will finally be judged and destroyed by his Word! ‘Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.’ – (Revelation 19:15) The sword from his mouth is the Word that will destroy the dominion of darkness. The only weapon we also have is the Word of God in our mouths. Our words too can destroy the dominion of darkness, if we proclaim the Word of God by the Spirit. ‘The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.’ – (2 Corinthians 10:4) But if we are not careful with our choice of words, our own words will destroy us! ‘The tongue also is a fire … it corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.’ – (James 3:6, Matthew 12:36-37)

The prophet Jeremiah had only his mouth to accomplish the task assigned to him. ‘Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot, and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” – (Jeremiah 1:9-10) Let’s know the power of the spoken word. Amen.