Homilist Proverbs 15:23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! I. USEFUL SPEECH IS A JOY-GIVING SPEECH. "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth." Three things guarantee him joy in such speaking. 1. The testimony of his own conscience. Having spoken what he believed to be the true, the generous, and the fitting, his conscience cheers him with its smiles. 2. The manifestation of the benefit. When he sees that the men to whom he speaks are evidently being improved in knowledge, in energy, and in true nobility, he has an unspeakable joy. 3. The gratitude of his hearers. II. USEFUL SPEECH IS A SEASONABLY-UTTERED SPEECH. "A word spoken in due season, how good is it!" 1. It should be in season as far as the speaker's own soul is concerned. Our souls have their seasons, and words that would be suitable in one season to our souls would not be so in another. There are words suited to soul moods. 2. It should be in season as far as the heater's soul is concerned. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!WEB: Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! |
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