The Power of the Spoken Word

After writing a post for “Random Acts of Kindness” week, I could not stop thinking about the power that words have.

What came to mind was Gen1: 1-2; In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God’s spirit hovered over the water. Gen1: 3, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God then continued to speak all things into existence including mankind. If we ponder the significance and awe of God’s spoken word then the significance our words take on a whole new meaning.

There are numerous examples of the prophets of the Old Testament understanding the power of God’s words. The first one that comes to mind is Samuel. He is a young boy, at age three was handed back to the Lord and raised in the temple. Anyway, he hears someone calling his name, he thinks it’s the older priest Eli and goes to him. Two times he goes to Eli, before the older priest realizes it is God calling Samuel. Eli then advises him, the next time you hear your name called say, “Speak Lord your servant is listening.”

This is an excellent example, for we are always vacillating between Eli and Samuel. Eli forgetting that God speaks to us and Samuel not knowing what to do when He does, taking listening and using words to a deeper level.

The next example is the prophet Jeremiah where God calls him to his unique role in salvation history. Jer. 1 4-5, God said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” God is saying this to each one of us. When I think of the enormity of this passage; it overwhelms me. It’s no longer, is He calling me; but what is He calling me to? We are all called to speak God’s word among the nations, sure our version of ‘nations’ may just be the people in our little circle of the world but nonetheless we are still called.

We often respond like Jeremiah in the 6^th verse, “Ah, Lord Yahweh; look, I do not know how to speak: I am a child.” I love this because it speaks directly to the fear and the reluctance to step out in faith and do what we were uniquely called to do.   I can almost see him, like one of my kids; when I ask them to do something they really don’t want to do. I can remember many times that I have initially responded this way.

Jer.9, Then Yahweh put out His hand and touched my mouth and said to me: “There! I am putting my words into your mouth.” Wow, that is powerful! No need to worry, no excuses now, for God Himself will put the words into our mouths.

Which leads me to think, if God can put words into our mouths and give us a portion of His power, then we REALLY don’t fully comprehend the power of the spoken word.

We use our words like water running from an open facet. We respond automatically without forethought. A product of the times we live in, where we use abbreviated words for texts and hashtags for our tweets. Snippets of knowledge for conversation, dismissing the power of the spoken word; dragging society into a quagmire of noise and confusion. Drowning out the voice of God. It reminds me of Eve in the Garden, being enticed to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, well we eat from that tree daily, we just call it technology.

What better way to keep mankind in darkness than with the same lies he used in the Garden.

Our only defense: is to carve out quiet space, which is very counter cultural at the moment, to just listen.

Perhaps we will be blessed with someone like Eli, who will eventually tell us to respond with “Speak Lord your servant is listening.”

Then we may become like Jerimiah, and perhaps initially claim ignorance, until God touches our mouths so that we will become like Eli and lead others to listen and answer with their own “Speak Lord your servant is listening.”

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