Ramblings from Retirement: Language Is More than Words!

Ramblings from Retirement: Language Is More than Words!
By Lee Hemen (retired pastor)
December 7, 2020

People sure are loose with their language in our day. Not just with the foul-mouthed verbiage they use but with the excuses they make in order to justify their ungodly actions. It reminds me of King Saul and how he tried to use excuses and words to justify his own rebellion to God. He was told by Samuel, God’s spokesman (prophet), to “attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”

Now to our “sensitive” ears that may sound harsh, judgmental, and unjustified but it wasn't. We often try to judge history with our own preconceived notions of what is justified today but to do so is to error big time. We dare not judge people in history by today’s standards and especially God. He had pretty good reasons for why he wanted the Amalekites destroyed. God knew that if even one of them was left alive they would seek revenge on the Israelites and the Amalekites were not the kind of people who would sit around holding hands singing “Kumbaya” with you. They were fierce land pirates who totally destroyed other tribes and nations they came into contact with; not to mention that they practiced some pretty ungodly and horrific religious practices of sacrificing their own children alive. They were kind of the Aztecs of the Middle East at this time; bloody, aggressive, and hating anyone and anything that was not Amalekite. And God knowing how people operate, because he made us, he knew that the Israelites would soon start marrying some of them and incorporate their ungodly ways into their own society which would be totally counterproductive and dangerous for them as a people. Kind of like your beautiful innocent teenage daughter who begins to hang around Goth Boy who wears black, talks in monotone, sports every demonic tattoo possible and pierces every body part he has access to. Just as you would want to protect your daughter God desired to keep his people safe as well.

So back to language is more than words: God had told King Saul what he was supposed to do but Saul buckled under to social pressure, did what he wanted, and then tried to excuse his dishonesty by using God’s own words against Samuel: “But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs--everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. (1 Samuel 15:9 NIV)”

God was not a Happy Camper and tells Samuel: “‘I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.’ Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night. (1 Samuel 15:11 NIV)” Samuel heads out to confront Saul who proudly tells Samuel, “The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions.” Notice Saul did destroy the Amalekites but he did not do exactly as God commanded. Saul even tried to dress it up by “blessing” Samuel. Samuel is not fooled and asks, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Duh! God had taken a man who was nothing and made him King of his people and all he had to do is follow God.

Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Saul whines to Samuel, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest!” Samuel like a good parent tells Saul just to “stop” with the excuses. Saul then makes one last attempt to justify his disobedience by responding that he did indeed “obey the Lord” that he went on the mission God had assigned him destroyed the Amalekites but brought back Agag their king and took the best stuff for themselves instead of giving it to the Lord. Even though Saul admitted that “I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions.” He confessed that he “was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.” Saul’s disobedience cost him his kingship. Language is more than words; when we say we love God but do not live like we do, our words mean nothing just like Saul’s words.

In today’s world we think that our good feelings outweigh our words or that our kind words can excuse our actions and neither is true. God knew Saul’s intent just as he knows our intent. This is why Jesus told the crowds, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:35-37 NIV)” Our words may sound good to our ears but it does not mean we are good. We may think that our good feelings are enough to excuse our ungodly actions but they do not.

Our language is more than just words; they mean something. They can reflect the intent of our real self, of who we truly are and what we really believe as a person. Do not use your words lightly, make promises you cannot keep, or say things you truly do not mean unless you are ready to back your words up before the Lord. Never forget what Paul wrote concerning our words: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10 NIV)”
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This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.