“Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known” (Proverbs 14:33).
Essential aspects of wisdom include having the prudence of knowing when to speak and how much to say and also exerting the self-control to keep your tongue still when silence is golden.
The fool has no such discernment or self-control. Therefore, his mouth babbles like a brook when it ought to be unemployed, and his tongue yammers when it ought to be still. Truly, “the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness” (Prov. 15:2) and “a fool’s mouth is his destruction” (Prov. 18:7).
The wise person can “read the room”. He develops the understanding of knowing when to speak, what to say, and how best to say it. He also understands that silence is a powerful form of communication.
Not only has God declared the wisdom of self-control, He also modeled it: In the millennium between the time of Moses to the days of Malachi, God spoke to His people at various times and ways using holy men. Though the generations of Abraham’s descendants were often stubborn and disobedient, Jehovah patiently and persistently moved men by the Holy Spirit to declare His will to them. Then, when they stopped listening, He stopped revealing. For roughly 400 years He said nothing.
In His final revelation of His mind and will, Jehovah spoke to all humanity by His Son. Of Him, He said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him…See that you do not refuse Him who speaks” (Mat. 17:5; Heb. 12:25).
