Using One’s Words Only to Serve Hashem
The Ahavas Shalom zy”a states that this pasuk is teaching us the important of watching our words and not speaking lashon hara or pointless words or saying lies. Rather, one should only use his words for avodas Hashem, especially on Shabbos, when one should be extra careful with his words, as the Gemara says (Shabbos 112B) that one’s way of speaking on Shabbos should not be like his way of speaking during the week. Furthermore, Sefer Yetzirah (1:3) states that our covenant with Hashem depends on our speech. Thus, the pasuk is saying that our “corpses” – meaning our blemishes and imperfections – will all fall away if we are careful with “midbar hazeh”, which can be translated to mean “these words”. In other words, if we watch our words correctly, and only use them to serve Hashem, we will be cleansed of all impurities.
Accordingly, the Vilna Gaon zy”a states that when one closes his mouth from saying bad words, he merits forgiveness and atonement from all of his sins.
