“As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool. When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved. Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.”
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Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A running theme throughout the whole of Scripture is the idea that the tongue is an enemy of a Godly man. This is particularly of note considering that it is seen as a producer of words. Words are an important facet of who God is. God spoke the universe into existence. Words were first. Jesus identifies himself as the logos, the idea behind the words. The Scripture is God’s word. However, it ought to be noted that it is not the tongue which produces words but the heart. Jeremiah noted that the heart is a sick thing. It should follow that the tongue and subsequently its words are sick as well. The wisdom makes sense in this context. When we enter into God’s presence, we are to shield it from things that are unclean. Not as a safety issue for God but as one for ourselves. God destroys the profane and profanity is always resting on the tongue’s tip. The tongue is perhaps the most necessary tool of human agency and therefore the one that needs the most discipline. In this way, silence becomes an offering. Praise becomes an offering. Blessing becomes an offering. It is no wonder that Solomon warns us about the tongue. In a world where technology extends the reach of our words with such ease, it is no wonder we should still listen.

Tongue as an Enemy: The tongue is considered an enemy of a Godly man due to its potential to produce harmful words.

Source of Words: The heart, not the tongue, is the source of words, and a sinful heart can lead to sinful words.

Importance of Discipline: The tongue, as a powerful tool of human agency, requires discipline to ensure words are used wisely and respectfully.