How Are Your Lips?

(Pro 16:13 KJV) Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

I am glad that this verse is translated literally.  I like the phrase “righteous (6664) lips (8193)”.  This is the only place it occurs exactly this way but there are two other places where the words are used together.

(Pro 10:21 KJV) The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
(Pro 10:32 KJV) The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Both are positive statements.  They are a standard we should look for in our leaders.  Good luck with that.  Righteousness involves speaking truth more than avoiding crude language.  Political leaders are not known for their truth speaking.

It is also an expectation for us.  We need to be leery of expecting people in authority or leadership to live on a higher level than we do.  It was one of the failures of the medieval church.  People began to expect that it was enough for pastors and elders to live righteous lives while the laity were free to pursue the desires of their hearts.  I used to run into a comical expression of this when people who were cussing up a storm would find out that I was a preacher.  They would stammer and get apologetic.  I would assure them I was familiar with the words.  So is God and His approval is much more important than mine.

So?  Expect the best from our leaders and live up to that level ourselves.