Proverbs 18

I love the verse regarding a man's mouth being deep waters, with the fountain of wisdom being a babbling brook.  With our mouths we can produce some salty speech.  I've let forth plenty of stingers as if I were spewing jellyfish.  While deep waters are beautiful and mysterious, we know danger can lurk well below the surface and while a pretty scene, an ocean will not quench our thirst and sustain us.  On the other hand, wisdom is a babbling brook, clean water, refreshing.  The brook is good to drink without concern of salty pollutants, jellyfish, jaws and such.  


Further in the proverb, we are warned about striving to quench our thirst with the ocean.  


Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.  


While the proverb isn't instructing us to close our ears to human speech, it does speak to the inclination of living for the approving tongue of others.  If one lives upon the words of others, one will live on saltwater, never fully satisfying; but if one lives upon the words of God, from the fountain of wisdom, one will live on the bubbling brook of crystal waters.


Jesus told the woman at the well, "...whoever drinks from the water I give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."


We have as Christians that living water indwelling in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, that we may have spiritual life--the Word of God within us!  Why do I measure my worth upon the words from a man's mouth when I should be drinking from the Spirit?  By His word, I am beloved, I am cherished, adopted as a son, sought after, holy!  Hide His word in your hearts, that it will become a well of water springing up to eternal life!


Proverbs 18

He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.
When a wicked an comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes scorn.
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
To show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment.
A fool's lips bring strife,
And his mouth calls for blows.
A fool's mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
the words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
He also who is slack in his work
Is brother to him who destroys.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is safe.
A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.
He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?
The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A man's gift makes room for him
And brings him before great men.
The first to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and examines him.
The cast lot puts an end to strife
And decides between the mighty ones.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.
With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor from the LORD.
The poor man utters supplications,
But the rich man answers roughly.
A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.