Proverbs 15:1, 2, 7, 23, 28 Gentle, apt, right arguments

15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 

15:2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 

15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. 

15:23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply - and how good is a timely word! 

15:28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

Part of the task of the preacher is to present good arguments for his case. A wise preacher will spread knowledge and adorn it by his arguments. He will not gush folly or speak from a heart that is not upright. His arguments will be characterised by gentleness, aptness and well weighed answers. He will not stir up anger by his harsh approach or disappointment by failing to give an untimely word or gush the evil the wicked speak.

The story is told of a preacher finding the sermon notes of the previous preacher in the pulpit adn noticing that at certain points in the margin of his manuscript this preacher had written the letter PWSL. The second preacher wondered what PWSL could stand for and so when he had the opportunity he asked. "Oh" said the first preacher, rather embarrassed, "It stands for point weak, shout leader!". Rather than running to such expedients we should rather be seeking to argue the case in an apt, well weighed and gentle way.

Proverbs 15:4 Tenderness not harshness

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
It is easy to fall into scolding a congregation, using what this proverb calls a harsh, bitter, rough or grievous tongue. Much better to use soft and soothing words, ones that are wholesome and healing not to ingratiate oneself with a congregation but in order to win them over - in order to be a tree of life  This is the fourth and final time Proverbs uses the phrase tree of life (see 3:18, 11:30, 13:12). It is referred to wisdom and understanding, the fruit of righteousness and to a longing fulfilled.If we can speak of these things in a winning way, what good may result. Proverbs 12:18 and 16:24 are similar - The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing and Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. In Matthew Henry's words a healing tongue is "healing to wounded consciences by comforting them, to sin-sick souls by convincing them" and, we may add, healing to despairing hearts by pointing them to the Saviour. Our preaching should not be harsh but we should speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15)

Preaching on Psalm 103:13, 14 Spurgeon once said

The drift of this lesson, is this - s your heavenly Father has pity on you, have pity on one another. He remembers that we are dust; remember this of others. You, who live in the same house, do not fall out with each other. You, who are members of the same church, do not criticise and judge each other so severely ... Preacher, mind you learn your own lesson - be as tender towards those who sin as the Master was.