INTRODUCTION

The focus of people’s speech generally revolves around things they find most important. This is why the Bible says, “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life.” How is that so? Because righteous things are important to him; they tend to dominate much of his conversation and focus. To the contrary, the wicked enjoy violence and tend to focus upon it, sometimes even unintentionally. They stir up controversy in the hopes that it yields the violence they crave. They view violent material in order to analyze the various aspects of violence ever needing new forms to entertain. It tends to dominate their discussions whether amongst friends or strangers. They pay money to view various events containing violence and leave disappointed if the violence does not reach their level of satisfaction. As a generation becomes enamored by violence, it consumes their thought life and their speech.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Haman wanted the Jews destroyed, spoke lies against them, and was willing to pay money to have them destroyed (Esther 3:8-9 [8] And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. [9] If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
  See All...; Proverbs 24:2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
  See All...). He even spoke of his desire for violence with his family (Esther 5:11-14 [11] And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. [12] Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. [13] Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. [14] Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
  See All...). The Bible offers a clear description of a violent man (Romans 3:13-18 [13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: [14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: [15] Their feet are swift to shed blood: [16] Destruction and misery are in their ways: [17] And the way of peace have they not known: [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): How much of your speech is marked by violence? Do you love to see violence in the news or in your forms of entertainment? Do you speak of it often?
• What topics do you find easiest when holding conversation with those you do not know? What things do you focus upon to find common ground with those whom you first meet? How much of your time is given to speaking of violence?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to help keep your conversation in check.
• Ask the Lord to help you speak of righteousness.

HYMN

HIS WAY WITH THEE

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