“Pleasant (nōʿam: splendor or grace) words are like a honeycomb, SWEETNESS to the soul and HEALTH to the bones.” (Pro. 16:24) Kind and gracious words are a dessert for any occasion. They go into the ears and soul with sweet pleasure, and they cheer up the heart and even that persons steps. A person’s face glows by their instant effect, and energy and vitality are restored to those cast down. You create such words out of thin air by your lips, when wisdom guides your speech. It states in (Pro. 16:23), “The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.”
Do our words promote health? Do we heal others by kind encouragement, wise counsel, and gentle comfort? Or are our words like a piercing sword, “There is one who speaks like the PIERCINGS OF A SWORD…” (Pro. 12:18) Do we leave others bleeding with caustic, critical, calloused, or condemning words? And do we then pour in salt, when we are told to only season our speech with it, “Let your speech ALWAYS BE with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may KNOW HOW you ought to answer each one.” (Col. 4:6) You see, this is the bottom line when it comes to our words, “DEATH AND LIFE are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Pro. 18:21)
We opened this devotion with “PLEASANT WORDS are like a honeycomb…” Honeycomb is comprised of minerals, vitamins, pollen, and protein. When you eat on a honeycomb, it can deliver minerals like: Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Sodium Chloride and Potassium and Studies have shown eating honey can help support your liver. According to a study published on NCBI, honey can help balance the liver and neutralize toxins. This is because problems with the liver are often rooted in oxidative damage. Honey’s antioxidants such as phenolics and peptides enter the picture and help to protect the liver. Additionally, honey has a lower glycemic index than processed sugar or high-fructose sugar, making it a better option for sugar-sensitive people.
We can spiritualize all these health benefits to the healing words we speak to the hurting, “…the tongue of the wise PROMOTES HEALTH.” (Pro. 12:18)
-Bill Stockham