Seasoned Speech

“Every… offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking” (Leviticus 2:13).  “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6).  “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright… The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge… The heart of the righteous studieth to answer” (Proverbs 15:2,14,28).  “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4). 

The sacrifices made by fire

Portrayed our Lord whom we exalt:

In every case God would require

That they must not be lacking salt.

Now salt is that ingredient

Applied to excellence in speech,

Which in our Lord was evident

In every word that He would teach. 

We know that salt produces flavor

And also stirs in us a thirst. 

Should not we thirst for such a Savior

Who died to save those who were cursed?

As salt was used for preservation,

Our speech should also do the same

As we declare our Lord’s salvation

For all who call upon His name. 

The Lord commands us to be wise

With grace by which our speech is seasoned,

For thereby God may open eyes

With prayerful answers, rightly reasoned.

The Lord will give His understanding

To those who seek with all their heart

To do whatever He’s commanding

And speak the truth He will impart. 

May this be nurtured in our youth

To whom we now convey God’s Word,

To see them walking in His truth,

As thirst to know Him has been stirred! 

O Lord, we thank You for the treasure

That we discover everyday

As in Your Word we take great pleasure

In hearing what You have to say. 

Lord, we have heard Your great command

To be Your salt and light on earth,

So in this thirsty, darkened land,

We’d speak and shine to show Your worth. 

Until we’re with You, Lord, above,

May salt and light in us abound

With speech that manifests Your  love

And shows Your grace that we have found.