"Words In Season," Isaiah 50:4a

WORDS IN SEASON given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary." (Isaiah 50: 4a) "The Lord God has The people creditor were separated from their spouse and children divorced from a Trouble was breathing down their throats like homeland like parent. of God a trying to collect an uncollectible debt. The a guilt heavy on their backs like a oversized jockey on a race horse. They felt hopeless as a prisoner in jail with the keys thrown away. Nobody seemed available to help or to answer their call. The place of of their wrong was 1 redemption seemed to be just a little further than they could reach. The waters of possibilities were dried up like a river in a desert. The people stand in the dark slough of despondency all dried up like a raisin reclamation in the sun or and covered with sackcloth. But thanks be God for the Prophet Isaiah who declared, "The Lord God given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary." He came just in time with words in season. One the things that make us unique as a human being is that God has given us the ability to use words and The Bible is filled with advice about the care that we ought to exercise in our use of words. The ability to speak has 2 suitable words, timely, wise, and helpful, is God's gift to us, one of the best gifts and we should seek, covet it earnestly. 11, The wise man Solomon wrote in Proverbs 25: fitly spoken is like apples of gold in baskets We should always be careful before uttering a "A word of silver." careless or back up to haunt few of us can look back idle word. For it will come in times yet unknown. Very over our lives without some serious regret of words we utter that could have been helpful but were harmful. How us many missed opportunities had we lost for speaking words in season. F or words are out of season when they properly adapted or rightly timed, when they are personal expressions of pride rather than concern for are not 3 others. We need words in The Psalmist tells us season. that the challenge starts early. estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies." (Psalm 58: 3) God wants us to use our words to praise and give Him "Th wicked are thanks. Psalm 100: 4 says, "Enter into his 'gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to use Him, and bless His name." WE words in must learn to season. Testament, Paul writes in his last words to Timothy, "Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all In the New longsuffering and teaching." (2 Timothy 4: 2) 4 Peter reminds can use to kill us that words them to or can curse or to make alive. be harmful to (1 bless, or beneficial. We praise, 8-10) In today's text, to criticize Peter 3: or to prophet Isaiah tells us why God has so blessed us to speak. "The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary." By divine design, speak the words in season. We should speak words in season to the person that is weary with too much work and toil, to the person weary of the commonness and meanness of life, to the one who is weary of perplexities and difficulties, to the one weary of prolonged pain or sickness, to the one weary of sin and 5 guilt, and to the one weary is well-doing. The most important one word is "we" not "me" or "I." The most important two words are "thank you." The most important three words are "if you please." The four greatest words are "What is your opinion?" The five most important words are "I am proud of you." God and his people are listening for words spoken in season. Let your words in season be words of warning. While you are standing on the wall as watchman, rearing your children, leading your crowd, looking in the distant and seeing the dangers that are ahead, warn the young, give notice to the blind, caution the lost, admonish the misbehaving. Put them on their guard. 6 )) Let your words in season be words of counsel. For many are unwise, headed in the wrong direction, destined destruction, and need wisdom. Many are rash, reckless, hotheaded, harebrained, foolhardy, and need to know how to be careful, circumspect, and cautious. So take what you know and from your experience, direct them in the right paths. With your established character, show others the way to walk, how to walk in the light. Let your words in season be words of reproof. Every now and then, you have to speak bravely to show your for . own faults and that of others. I read somewhere that Faithful are the words of a friend. love. 7 Speak the truth in Then your words in season will bring comfort. Tell them to "Trust in the Lord and do good so shall they dwell in the land." said, "Do not fear, value than many sparrows." (Psalm 37) therefore, you are of more (Matthews 1 0: 31) Jesus And your words in season will inspire cheer. The man born blind heard Jesus say, "Cheer up" and began to jump and shout. (Mark 1 0: 49) Tell somebody about the hope of a brighter day ahead. Use words of approval and applause. Speak words of affection, of forgiveness, with grace. Invoke blessings upon your children with words in season like Isaac did. (Hebrews 11: 20) Keep your history and heritage alive 8 ) with words in season like Joseph did (Hebrews 11: 21) Pour in words of faith like Jesus did. Use words to pray with and for your children. Pour the Word of God in those who live about you. The story is told of an out of the way restaurant in Tennessee. One day the new preacher stopped in for a going from table to table, smiling and speaking to everybody. Ultimately, the old man stopped by the new preacher's table spoke, and said, "you passing through?" The preacher spoke in return and said, No, I'm the new preacher in town." The old meal. He notice an old man tell you without a dad. man said let little boy me a story. He said there Everybody talked 9 was a about him and Everywhere the little body went he held his head down, never know what somebody might say. One day the little boy got job washing dishes in the local restaurant. The new preacher came to town he asked the little boy, "Who do you belong to?' It got quiet and everybody stopped what they were doing to hsten to hear what the little body would answer. Sensing the problem as he looked at the little boy's demeanor, the preacher said, "Oh, I know who you belong to. You are a child of God. I can see the striking resemblance and He has given you great possibilities. Now, go claim your heritage." The old man turned and went on to another table. The new preacher was curious put him down and calledhim . 10 names. and he lean over and asked "who is that ole' man?" The back "Don't you know that is former governor Hooper and that story is his own. Words in season are like a good meal when you are response, hungry . came Words in Words in season When Jesus like water to the season are make you strong and spoke, water serene thirsty. and settled. changed to wine, the dumb spoke, the lame shouted, the blind saw, demons found another place to go, the woman at the well changed her ways, 5000 men ate fish and and walked. bread, and the dead got up 11