Generally, when Christians discuss “taming your tongue” two verses of scripture always come up… Exodus 20 (the Ten Commandments) and James 3 (where most English translations actually place the heading “Taming the Tongue”)
When most people hear the phrase Taming your tongue, or the phrase “don’t take name of the Lord in vain” from Exodus 20:7, they immediately think of swearing or using vulgarities.
Now, I get it; no Christian wants to use a bunch of profanity. And many times we wake up in the morning and decide before getting out of bed, that we definitely will not use any vulgarities today… then, we stub our toe getting out of bed, and we’ve already failed!
While it can be somewhat disheartening when we experience a perceived failure, I believe that we are also missing a crucial point in these mentioned scriptures.
Now, I am not dismissing the desire to speak well without vulgarities— not at all. However what I am saying is that these scriptures are referring to something more, something deeper, and something much more potent, than merely coarse words; and this truth is what I want to share with you today. And as a special bonus, I believe that as we meditate on this truth together, it will have an effect on every area of your life— including your speech, but don’t focus on your speech, focus on the truth of Jesus.
Let’s get started.
Taking the Name of the LORD
The first scripture for us to look at is Exodus chapter 20 verse 7, which is often quoted as a commandment against using bad words, but let’s take a closer look at the verse.
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.”
This is definitely a sober warning from God… but a warning against what exactly? Most Christians quote this verse as if it were saying not to speak the name of God in vain, but look at what the text actually says… do not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
The word “take” used here in this verse of scripture, is the Hebrew word nāsā which means “to bare up, to carry, to endure and bear continuously with”.
With this information in mind, we can begin to see a different meaning to Exodus 20:7, one not having so much to do with speaking, but with taking the name of the LORD— to bare His name, to carry His name; and Exodus 20:7 warns not to carry and bare His name in vain— which means in emptiness, or without meaning.
Taking (or carrying) the LORD’s name in vain (or emptiness) means literally to take His name upon yourself… to call yourself His (as every “Christian” does) but you do so in emptiness, without any real power.
It’s akin to other warnings in scripture such as 2nd Timothy 3:5, speaking of those who have a form of godliness, but deny its power.
There are unfortunately many who take the name of the LORD upon themselves but deny the power associated with that name, and live weak lives always under the foot of natural and evil forces and influences. So what can we do about this problem? That’s where our second scripture of James 3:3-8 comes in.
No Human Can Do This
In James chapter 3, we see some startling details about the tongue:
“3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, wherever the governor wants.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
James 3:3-8
In verses 3 and 4 the scripture makes a point about how even though the tongue seems like a small thing, it wields great power. Indeed, generally people do not give much thought or attention to their words— many times speaking the first thing that enters their mind automatically. But verse 5 continues by reinforcing the fact that the tongue carries much power. Even so much as to defile the whole body, as verse 6 claims!
Verse 8, is the most telling of all, as it sharply says: no man can tame the tongue. That seems quite discouraging! If no man can tame the tongue, what hope is there? Well, the key is in the small but powerful detail, that no man (human) can tame the tongue.
God Can Do What We Can’t
This is where the Holy Spirit comes into play. The scriptures teach us in Romans 8:26-27:
“ 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:26-27
So we do have a source of help… but help is almost too weak of a word, because as we see here, the Spirit of God in us does far more than merely “help” — the Spirit makes intercession for us.
Let’s explore this further…
The word “weakness” here is used of any infirmity, sickness or disease. So even if your speech is the result of a sickness, or a disease, the Holy Spirit has that covered. The key here is to not fall into the trap of self-condemnation. God knows that we are weak in our own strength (otherwise we wouldn’t need a helper), so, it’s no surprise to Him when we fail.
God’s remedy to our weakness, is not for us to “try harder” or rely on our own strength, but rather, to rely on and to trust the Spirit’s intercession for us.
Someone might say, “well, Jim, I just don’t believe that!” — and there’s the problem. It’s often very difficult to escape the temptations of self-reliance, and self-effort, and release completely to the Holy Spirit. But that’s precisely what these verses are saying.
Verse 26 is a definite statement. It doesn’t say “we can learn what we are supposed to pray with enough time and effort” — No, it flat out says “We don’t know what we are supposed to.”
That, together with what we saw earlier in James 3, about no-one being able to tame the tongue, and we are put squarely on notice that doing trying to do this ourselves is an impossible task.
The Holy Spirit’s Words
In verse 27, we see that God searches the heart and obviously He knows the mind of the Spirit. So God knows our heart, our intent, regardless of the words that exit our mouths. And we see that He makes intercession for us according to the will of God.
It is the Holy Spirit’s words that bring life, and it is the Holy Spirit’s words that are according to (in agreement with) the will of God.
And where do you find the Spirit’s words? Well, there’s an entire book of promises, comfort, and truth… it’s the scriptures. And as you think about and meditate on those promises and truth, you’ll be surprised how the exact words come to your remembrance at the perfect time— that’s the Spirit in you at work.
Conclusion
There’s more I want to share about words, but I think that needs another study all its own. For today, be encouraged that you have a source of help beyond yourself… and steer clear of self-condemnation.
I look forward to thriving with you again.
Be blessed.