“How ‘Bout Them Apples?”
February 18, 2023
A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Proverbs 25:11
Do you know anyone who seems to know exactly the right thing to say at just the right moment? Are you that person, or are you like me in that you know the right thing to say AFTER the right time to say it?
The book of Proverbs is replete with much imagery, and Proverbs 25:11 is no exception. Appropriate words are compared to apples of gold and knowing something about apples may make this Proverb come to life.
In ancient Greece, the apple was considered sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Throwing an apple to someone was to symbolically declare one’s love. To catch that apple, was to accept the love and reciprocate it.
In the Bible, even though the forbidden fruit in Genesis is not identified, popular Christian tradition has held that it was an apple with which Eve coaxed Adam to share with her. As a result, the apple became a symbol for temptation, the fall of man into sin, and itself. Interestingly, the larynx in the human throat has been named, “Adam’s apple”, because of the notion that it was caused by the forbidden fruit getting stuck in Adam’s throat.
In the area of health, golden apples are known for their nutritious value and support of strong heart health, digestion, and pleasant breath.
It would appear as though apples have much to do with the words we speak. When we speak words that are like “apples of gold in a setting of silver”, we offer pleasant words to others which uplift their hearts, give encouragement for them to digest, and love that is pleasant.
Why not take a bite out of the APPLE and speak words that are, Appropriate, Pleasant, Pure, Loving, and Encouraging?