Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.
--Psalm 141:3-4 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on August 18, 2013 of Psalm 141; Luke 17:1-19; Esther 1-2.
The 141st Psalm is one of David's laments in which he seeks deliverance from his enemies. But in the 141st he also asks God to help him not do wrong himself. He knows it would be easy for him to become like those he despises just because he has to face them every day. We've seen this ourselves, how easy it is to take up the ways of those we interact with all the time, and too often it proves easier to take on the ways of the world and the popular culture, even though we know we shouldn't, than those who try hardest to follow Christ. David prayed that the Lord help him resist this particular kind of temptation, and so should we. We don't want to become the devil to fight the devil.
David's primary concern for his own behavior, and ours, can be summed up by today's focus verses. First, we need to carefully weigh our words before we let them escape from our mouth. Jeremiah calls the tongue "an arrow shot out" (please see Jeremiah 9:8), something that cannot be stopped in flight and can cause great harm on impact. James, the brother of Jesus, tells us that "no man can tame the tongue" (James 3:8), so we need to ask God for His help in doing so. The Apostle Paul warns us to "let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth" (Ephesians 4:29). Even thinking such words, without uttering them, will be seen by our Father as inappropriate. The point is that words once spoken are impossible to take back. Once loosed, any damage or harm they might possibly inflict will be done. We should take a moment to consider what we are about to say before we give it voice. Are our words hurtful? Are they something we would want to hear spoken to us or those dearest to us? Is this the kind of speech the world would use, or more like what Jesus taught us? Sometimes we need God's help to respond in a more righteous manner.
The second concern David presents goes hand in hand with the first. The more we accept and adopt the ways of the world, the more we become just like it. Without realizing it, our heart can become inclined to allow us to do evil things. If we associate too much with wicked people and slowly become more like them rather than standing apart, even while among them, and trying to help them become more like us, then we are more at risk of working iniquity ourselves. David warns us this can happen and we should heed his warning. James states the stark fact that we just can't always do this on our own. But we can succeed with God's help. We can do anything if we call upon Jesus who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Christ will help us set a guard on our mouth and our heart to keep us from doing any wicked work. Thank You, Lord! Amen.
Precious Lord Jesus, without Your help we can do very little. Without Your strength upholding us we would surely fall. Set a guard, O Lord, over our mouth that we might not hurt others or ourselves with our words. Set a sentry, blessed Jesus, over our heart that we might not be tempted by Satan and his world to do his bidding. Help us, please Lord, do what is right in the eyes of our Father in heaven. In Your most holy name, dear Jesus we pray. Amen.
David's primary concern for his own behavior, and ours, can be summed up by today's focus verses. First, we need to carefully weigh our words before we let them escape from our mouth. Jeremiah calls the tongue "an arrow shot out" (please see Jeremiah 9:8), something that cannot be stopped in flight and can cause great harm on impact. James, the brother of Jesus, tells us that "no man can tame the tongue" (James 3:8), so we need to ask God for His help in doing so. The Apostle Paul warns us to "let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth" (Ephesians 4:29). Even thinking such words, without uttering them, will be seen by our Father as inappropriate. The point is that words once spoken are impossible to take back. Once loosed, any damage or harm they might possibly inflict will be done. We should take a moment to consider what we are about to say before we give it voice. Are our words hurtful? Are they something we would want to hear spoken to us or those dearest to us? Is this the kind of speech the world would use, or more like what Jesus taught us? Sometimes we need God's help to respond in a more righteous manner.
The second concern David presents goes hand in hand with the first. The more we accept and adopt the ways of the world, the more we become just like it. Without realizing it, our heart can become inclined to allow us to do evil things. If we associate too much with wicked people and slowly become more like them rather than standing apart, even while among them, and trying to help them become more like us, then we are more at risk of working iniquity ourselves. David warns us this can happen and we should heed his warning. James states the stark fact that we just can't always do this on our own. But we can succeed with God's help. We can do anything if we call upon Jesus who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Christ will help us set a guard on our mouth and our heart to keep us from doing any wicked work. Thank You, Lord! Amen.
Precious Lord Jesus, without Your help we can do very little. Without Your strength upholding us we would surely fall. Set a guard, O Lord, over our mouth that we might not hurt others or ourselves with our words. Set a sentry, blessed Jesus, over our heart that we might not be tempted by Satan and his world to do his bidding. Help us, please Lord, do what is right in the eyes of our Father in heaven. In Your most holy name, dear Jesus we pray. Amen.
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