Believe it or not, many church goers have the sentiment expressed in the above image. They want a preacher to "tell us pretty lies." They want smooth talking preachers (and politicians too). Before addressing what is the meaning of speaking "smooth things," let us notice some other companion texts.
"For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." (Rom. 16: 18 ESV)
"With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him." (Prov. 7: 21 ESV)
"His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords." Psa. 55: 21 ESV)
In today's vernacular and street talk we have expressions that are examples of the kind of "smooth" talking that these texts warn us about, such as "slick talk" and "slippery" language. They are allusions to speakers who are able to talk others into doing things they might not otherwise do.
They know how to talk like the ancient Sophists and to use every linguistic art to persuade people. They are able to play with the meaning of words, to say as former president Bill Clinton did in a slippery way "it all depends on what the meaning of is, is."
They know how to speak equivocally (allowing the possibility of several different meanings of a word or phrase, especially with intent to deceive or misguide or what is susceptible of double interpretation).
They are adept at knowing how to appeal to the emotions and to the psyche or ego (much like those in marketing and sales "pitches").
They know how to use flattery, how to propagandize and to pander, how to change the subject, how to use rhetorical and sophistic devices in the art of persuasion, how to weasel and be slippery when confronted by opposers, how to equivocate and alter the shades of meaning in words used, how to hide the truth by artful dodger methods, how to use "plausible deniability."
Be warned of smooth talkers. Notice this warning of the apostle Paul:
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." (II Tim. 4: 3 KJV)
Other translations help us understand what it means to have itching ears.
"For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires." (NASB)
"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (NIV)
All this makes me think of this passage in Ezekiel:
"And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not." (Eze. 33: 31-32 KJV)
That is not to say that Ezekiel was a ear tickler, or smooth talker, but I am sure that many smooth talking preachers are very good at entertaining the ears. The highest paid and most popular preachers are smooth talkers and sing their sermons to the hearts of the rebellious and can entertain well.
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