Tongue

 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. Proverbs 25:15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.25.15.ESV

I love the imagery of the second half of this proverb! Of course, a soft tongue cannot literally break a bone. But Solomon's point is that if we have patience, perseverance and persuasiveness, there's real power in that.

The politics of protest might seem pointless. Those in power might not seem to be listening. But politics is swings and roundabouts, and often the politics of protest become the politics of power.

A saying we have in English that has pretty much the opposite meaning to this proverb is "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me". The truth is however that at the word of a powerful thug for example, one of his henchmen would break your bones.

Words do have power, especially when used by powerful people in accordance with God's will. But if I told someone to break your bones,
they would (hopefully!) ignore me! So there's a limit to the power of human words.

"God of the Word, thank You that Your Word has power, what You says goes. Please declare forgiveness over us through Jesus, in whose name we pray, amen"

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