Words have a curious power to them. Everyone soon learns from experience that the old adage 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me' is frequently untrue. Words can be very damaging and hurtful. On the other hand, words can be helpful, instructive and even healing. We are bombarded by words from many directions, even in days of personal isolation, through TV, radio, newspapers, or by social media on our smartphones and all sorts of websites on the internet. Words matter... Our need for clear, accurate and correctly interpreted information is particularly important in this pandemic. We don't want to hear confusing or contradictory advice. We need to be alert to the danger of fake news, quack remedies, or of unsubstantiated rumours. Tragically, lives and livelihoods have already been lost owing to such things. For instance, it has been reported by the official Iranian news agency that a significant number of people there have been poisoned or died as a result of drinking industrial-strength alcohol in the misguided belief that it would stave off the coronavirus. They believed rumours that had no basis in truth. Sadly, false information spreads quickly and is all-too-easily believed - 'I saw it on the internet, so it must be true'. Well, no. A strong dose of scepticism is needed about a lot of what we see on the internet. Despite what some might like to think, truth really does matter. None of us really live with the notion that there is no such thing as real truth, or as someone once called it, 'true truth'. 

The biblical book of Proverbs is a book of many short sayings, proverbs, that can be found just over half way through the Old Testament. It has a lot to say about words, or the use of the tongue, or concerning truth and lies, or wise words and folly. Although the book was compiled thousands of years ago, it has a remarkable freshness to it revealing its own God-given, timeless wisdom. For example, in one place it says "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Proverbs 12:18, ESV) The first part is a warning against the peril of spontaneous words, not thought out and grounded in truth, which can cause real harm, like a sword thrust into someone. Leaders who have the platform, the microphone and the attention of many people in this crisis need to ensure that the information and advice they give, and the legislation enacted, are well-grounded in fact and truthfully conveyed. The second part of the proverb speaks of the real good that wise words can do, words that are based on fact and represent truth rightly used. 

There is one voice, above all others, that all of us need to hear, the voice of God. His words are truth itself, always wise and they do bring healing. Keep an eye on the blog for some more divine wisdom from the book of Proverbs. To many, it may come as a surprise that a book as old as the Bible can have anything fresh and relevant to say. Then be surprised - it really does.