Her Tongue
There is much wisdom to be learned by us dear sisters, surrounding the tongue and the dynamics of its working. For truly there is an intricate interplay between our hearts, wherein dwells the presence, absence, or various measures of subjection, meekness, and quietness, and the words of our mouth. For this reason King David prays, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, Oh LORD, my strength and my Redeemer” (Ps 19:14). As our LORD Jesus Christ taught, a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh (Luke 6:45). Key charges to women in Scripture place great significance specifically upon her quietness.
Silence as a Means of Subjection
The LORD’s expectation for His daughters to be silent under a broad arena of circumstances is due to the order of subjection that He has ordained. We have spoken thus far of the bridegroom’s role to wash the bride with the WORD of God, to slay her carnality with refining fires of the WORD, to teach her so as to sanctify and save her. Indeed following the charge to woman to keep silence in the churches, the Scripture says, “and if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church” (1 Cor 14:35). Consider also the meek and quiet spirit: Why are woman commanded to have a meek and quiet spirit though men are not so explicitly commanded to have such? Dear sisters, it is because of the order of subjection. If the man is the head, then he most assuredly is the doctrinal leader, teacher, guide…and if this is the case, is it not clear why the woman is to remain “in silence” and “meek and quiet”? Her quietness and silence before her God-given head shows that she deems him greater than herself in knowledge, wisdom, and discernment, and this is the case if he is in the will of God, and the LORD has placed him as her covering.
Here I sit at your feet knowing not which way to take
So still and quiet before you my lord, for your strong voice I wait
For in a multitude of my words there wanteth not sin
But as I refrain my lips surely Christ has made me wise within
For my answer, my morsel from heaven, will now from you come
That I may each time I sit here be conformed more to the image of His Son
Were I to speak I corrupt the time which is scare in these evil days
So to you I look and meekly wait, for I trust and follow you in all your Godly ways
Dear sisters, when meekness and quietness is lacking in the heart of a woman, based on the Scriptural principle described earlier, out of the abundance of the opposite of meekness and quietness, loftiness and carnal striving, her mouth shall speak! Thus if any woman among us seems to be religious, and bridles not her tongue, she deceives her own heart, and this woman’s religion is vain (Jam 1:26). The condition of the heart and the words of the mouth are so inseparable in their nature and the (S)spirit whereby they are spoken that the Scriptures say that if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body, and thus when he speaks he speaks as the oracles of God that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Jam 3:2, 1 Pet 4:11) For who is a wise woman and endued with knowledge among us? Let her shew out of a good conversation her works with meekness of wisdom. But if she has bitter envying and strife in her heart, she must not glory, and lie against the truth. This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace! (James 3:13-18) The wisdom of a meek and quiet spirit, a spirit SUBJECTED unto the LORD in her husband results in purity, peaceableness, gentleness, being easy to be intreated, fullness of mercy and good fruits, and the absence of partiality and hypocrisy. When the words of a woman’s mouth express envying, strife, frivolity, and worldliness, be assured that earthly, sensual, and devilish wisdom is in her heart! Ultimately, the thoughts and intentions of the heart will be manifested in words proceeding from the tongue!
The Tongue (see James 3)
As impossible as it is to cure the sinful nature, for a fallen man or a regenerated man walking after the flesh to be victorious over sin, so it is impossible for any man to tame the tongue when the heart remains relentlessly untamed! Yet how thoroughly does the blood of Christ purge the consciences of His people to serve the living God! Surely the LORD has done the miracle of regenerating the heart of man through the power of His glorious atonement! His stony heart is removed, a fleshly heart is granted him, he is granted a new heart and a new spirit, and the he is granted the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! The regenerated woman is able to have a meek and quiet spirit as she does abide in her LORD Jesus Christ, and when her heart contains such meekness and quietness, when her heart is in true Spirit-filled subjection to her God given head, the manifestation will be her silence and quietness!
Morally depraved was she in her feministic pride and clamour
The judgment of wrath and fiery hell loomed upon her from the eyes of the righteous Examiner
Envy and pride did from her speech emanate
For the WORD of God her stony heart could not penetrate
With His sovereign elective mercy in an instant He made her into a new creature
The new creature had a meek and quiet spirit subjected wholly unto her Teacher
Thus in the abundance of her spirit before her lord she scarcely spoke a word
Except that she hear the Spirit warn her that silence she cannot afford
Beloved sisters, surely when the LORD corrects our heart, granting us broken and contrite spirits, we will speak as the LORD would have us to! For whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles and death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Prov 21:23, 18:21).
When there is an absence of due meekness, quietness, and subjection in the heart, the woman’s tongue will certainly be unbridled, and words which please not her LORD or her God-given head will proceed. She will speak things she ought not to say. She will speak to people she ought not to speak to. She will speak at times that she ought not to speak. She will speak more than she ought to speak. And withal she will learn to be idle, wandering from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which she ought not (1 Tim 5:13). Indeed it is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman, who is like a continual dropping in a very rainy day (Prov 21:19, 27:15)! Surely our men would need wisdom to keep from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of the strong woman, from her lips which drop as honeycomb, her mouth which is smoother than oil, her impudent speeches, her fair speeches…oh that he would not yield (Prov 5:3, 6:24, 7:13, 21)! Consider that woman Jezebel who in the last days, calls herself a prophetess, to TEACH and SEDUCE the LORD’s servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols (Rev 2:20)!
All manner of wicked thoughts, desires, and feelings in the heart of a woman result in her wicked speech. Ultimately her thoughts are not captive to the obedience of Christ!
In her guilty conscience she does fear death
Thus she does seek to justify herself, by her fair speeches herself bless
In her deep anxious cares she does fret and strive
She feels that to murmur and contend is her only way to survive
She desires to exalt herself among the rest
In her heart making frivolous comparisons she does with her many questions seek to test
In her vile wantonness she does flatter and allure the man
Her smooth words to his soul are as quick sand
She fears not the LORD nor her righteous head
And in the multitude of her words, her souls languishes, for she has refused to by them be fed.
Thus far, I seek to emphasize to you that the required silence and quietness on a part of a woman is necessary to prove a heart that is in subjection and meekness before the LORD and her God-given head. When her tongue is unbridled, the insubjection and lack of meekness of her heart is evidenced.
However, the Scriptures do not teach universal silence in women, that is, the LORD does not command women to be altogether silent. In truth, there are instances where her righteousness involves speaking and were she not to speak, therein would be her folly. Her silence would be her sin. For to him that knoweth to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17)! When a woman knows that she ought to speak so as to perform righteous judgment, to make an answer, to edify, to instruct, to show charity, and she remains silent, to her it is sin.
Scriptural Evidence of Righteous Speech from Women
The potential for righteous speech within a woman is vast! Indeed her soft tongue can break the bones of the unrelenting (Prov 25:15)! Here are areas revealed in Scriptures:
The Labours of a Woman’s Righteous Tongue
To Encourage her Husband
Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. (SoS 4:11)
32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. (1 Sam 25:32-33)
To Teach Children
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. (Prov 1:8-9)
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. (2 Tim 1:5)
To Teach Younger Women
“the aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the younger women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children”
To Prophecy (under appropriate covering)
“But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven” (1 Cor 11:5)
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. (Acts 21:9)
“36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38)
Beloved sisters, may the LORD God give you the tongue of the learned, that you should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: oh may Christ wakeneth you morning by morning, wakeneth your ear to hear from your (T)teachers as the learned! (Is 50:4)
Go to Chapter 10 The Death Sentence
There is much wisdom to be learned by us dear sisters, surrounding the tongue and the dynamics of its working. For truly there is an intricate interplay between our hearts, wherein dwells the presence, absence, or various measures of subjection, meekness, and quietness, and the words of our mouth. For this reason King David prays, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, Oh LORD, my strength and my Redeemer” (Ps 19:14). As our LORD Jesus Christ taught, a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh (Luke 6:45). Key charges to women in Scripture place great significance specifically upon her quietness.
- “let the woman learn in silence with all subjection” (1 Tim 2:11)
- “likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the WORD, they also many without the word be won by the conversation of the wives” (1 Pet 3:1)
- The Adornment: “let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Pet 3:4)
- “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law” (1 Cor 14:34)
Silence as a Means of Subjection
The LORD’s expectation for His daughters to be silent under a broad arena of circumstances is due to the order of subjection that He has ordained. We have spoken thus far of the bridegroom’s role to wash the bride with the WORD of God, to slay her carnality with refining fires of the WORD, to teach her so as to sanctify and save her. Indeed following the charge to woman to keep silence in the churches, the Scripture says, “and if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church” (1 Cor 14:35). Consider also the meek and quiet spirit: Why are woman commanded to have a meek and quiet spirit though men are not so explicitly commanded to have such? Dear sisters, it is because of the order of subjection. If the man is the head, then he most assuredly is the doctrinal leader, teacher, guide…and if this is the case, is it not clear why the woman is to remain “in silence” and “meek and quiet”? Her quietness and silence before her God-given head shows that she deems him greater than herself in knowledge, wisdom, and discernment, and this is the case if he is in the will of God, and the LORD has placed him as her covering.
Here I sit at your feet knowing not which way to take
So still and quiet before you my lord, for your strong voice I wait
For in a multitude of my words there wanteth not sin
But as I refrain my lips surely Christ has made me wise within
For my answer, my morsel from heaven, will now from you come
That I may each time I sit here be conformed more to the image of His Son
Were I to speak I corrupt the time which is scare in these evil days
So to you I look and meekly wait, for I trust and follow you in all your Godly ways
Dear sisters, when meekness and quietness is lacking in the heart of a woman, based on the Scriptural principle described earlier, out of the abundance of the opposite of meekness and quietness, loftiness and carnal striving, her mouth shall speak! Thus if any woman among us seems to be religious, and bridles not her tongue, she deceives her own heart, and this woman’s religion is vain (Jam 1:26). The condition of the heart and the words of the mouth are so inseparable in their nature and the (S)spirit whereby they are spoken that the Scriptures say that if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body, and thus when he speaks he speaks as the oracles of God that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Jam 3:2, 1 Pet 4:11) For who is a wise woman and endued with knowledge among us? Let her shew out of a good conversation her works with meekness of wisdom. But if she has bitter envying and strife in her heart, she must not glory, and lie against the truth. This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace! (James 3:13-18) The wisdom of a meek and quiet spirit, a spirit SUBJECTED unto the LORD in her husband results in purity, peaceableness, gentleness, being easy to be intreated, fullness of mercy and good fruits, and the absence of partiality and hypocrisy. When the words of a woman’s mouth express envying, strife, frivolity, and worldliness, be assured that earthly, sensual, and devilish wisdom is in her heart! Ultimately, the thoughts and intentions of the heart will be manifested in words proceeding from the tongue!
The Tongue (see James 3)
- A little member, and boasteth great things
- A little fire kindling a great matter
- A fire, a world of iniquity
- Defileth the whole body
- Setteth on fire the course of nature
- Is itself set on fire of hell
- No man can tame
- Unruly evil
- Full of deadly poison
As impossible as it is to cure the sinful nature, for a fallen man or a regenerated man walking after the flesh to be victorious over sin, so it is impossible for any man to tame the tongue when the heart remains relentlessly untamed! Yet how thoroughly does the blood of Christ purge the consciences of His people to serve the living God! Surely the LORD has done the miracle of regenerating the heart of man through the power of His glorious atonement! His stony heart is removed, a fleshly heart is granted him, he is granted a new heart and a new spirit, and the he is granted the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! The regenerated woman is able to have a meek and quiet spirit as she does abide in her LORD Jesus Christ, and when her heart contains such meekness and quietness, when her heart is in true Spirit-filled subjection to her God given head, the manifestation will be her silence and quietness!
Morally depraved was she in her feministic pride and clamour
The judgment of wrath and fiery hell loomed upon her from the eyes of the righteous Examiner
Envy and pride did from her speech emanate
For the WORD of God her stony heart could not penetrate
With His sovereign elective mercy in an instant He made her into a new creature
The new creature had a meek and quiet spirit subjected wholly unto her Teacher
Thus in the abundance of her spirit before her lord she scarcely spoke a word
Except that she hear the Spirit warn her that silence she cannot afford
Beloved sisters, surely when the LORD corrects our heart, granting us broken and contrite spirits, we will speak as the LORD would have us to! For whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles and death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Prov 21:23, 18:21).
When there is an absence of due meekness, quietness, and subjection in the heart, the woman’s tongue will certainly be unbridled, and words which please not her LORD or her God-given head will proceed. She will speak things she ought not to say. She will speak to people she ought not to speak to. She will speak at times that she ought not to speak. She will speak more than she ought to speak. And withal she will learn to be idle, wandering from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which she ought not (1 Tim 5:13). Indeed it is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman, who is like a continual dropping in a very rainy day (Prov 21:19, 27:15)! Surely our men would need wisdom to keep from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of the strong woman, from her lips which drop as honeycomb, her mouth which is smoother than oil, her impudent speeches, her fair speeches…oh that he would not yield (Prov 5:3, 6:24, 7:13, 21)! Consider that woman Jezebel who in the last days, calls herself a prophetess, to TEACH and SEDUCE the LORD’s servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols (Rev 2:20)!
All manner of wicked thoughts, desires, and feelings in the heart of a woman result in her wicked speech. Ultimately her thoughts are not captive to the obedience of Christ!
In her guilty conscience she does fear death
Thus she does seek to justify herself, by her fair speeches herself bless
In her deep anxious cares she does fret and strive
She feels that to murmur and contend is her only way to survive
She desires to exalt herself among the rest
In her heart making frivolous comparisons she does with her many questions seek to test
In her vile wantonness she does flatter and allure the man
Her smooth words to his soul are as quick sand
She fears not the LORD nor her righteous head
And in the multitude of her words, her souls languishes, for she has refused to by them be fed.
Thus far, I seek to emphasize to you that the required silence and quietness on a part of a woman is necessary to prove a heart that is in subjection and meekness before the LORD and her God-given head. When her tongue is unbridled, the insubjection and lack of meekness of her heart is evidenced.
However, the Scriptures do not teach universal silence in women, that is, the LORD does not command women to be altogether silent. In truth, there are instances where her righteousness involves speaking and were she not to speak, therein would be her folly. Her silence would be her sin. For to him that knoweth to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17)! When a woman knows that she ought to speak so as to perform righteous judgment, to make an answer, to edify, to instruct, to show charity, and she remains silent, to her it is sin.
Scriptural Evidence of Righteous Speech from Women
- “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness” (Prov 31:26)
- “But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven” (1 Cor 11:5) (indicating that women may pray and prophesy under the covering of the LORD and her God-given covering)
- “the aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the younger women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children” (Tit 2:3-4)
The potential for righteous speech within a woman is vast! Indeed her soft tongue can break the bones of the unrelenting (Prov 25:15)! Here are areas revealed in Scriptures:
The Labours of a Woman’s Righteous Tongue
To Encourage her Husband
Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. (SoS 4:11)
32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. (1 Sam 25:32-33)
To Teach Children
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. (Prov 1:8-9)
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. (2 Tim 1:5)
To Teach Younger Women
“the aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the younger women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children”
To Prophecy (under appropriate covering)
“But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven” (1 Cor 11:5)
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. (Acts 21:9)
“36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38)
Beloved sisters, may the LORD God give you the tongue of the learned, that you should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: oh may Christ wakeneth you morning by morning, wakeneth your ear to hear from your (T)teachers as the learned! (Is 50:4)
Go to Chapter 10 The Death Sentence