Psalm 12:5-7 "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. (6) The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (7) Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."
To be blunt this morning, we live in a time when people all too often speak
before thinking. There are many times when people feel free to throw words at
others without giving a second thought as to how they are hurtful to others.
People's lives can be ruined by thoughtless words hurled in a moment of
anger. The wise man, Solomon, wrote "Death and life are in the power
of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
(Proverbs 18:21) James had much to say about the power of the tongue; yet all
too often it is used without giving thought to their consequences.
David wrote about those people in this Psalm. "The LORD shall cut off all
flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With
our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?"
(Psalm 12:3-4) These people thought they could prevail over another by speaking
harsh things about them. But God has other plans. One of the six things that
God hates is a "lying tongue."
God says to these things, "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing
of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from
him that puffeth at him." That word, puffeth, carries the meaning of an
expression of scorn or contempt. We must be very careful in the manner we talk
to and about others. Also, we must be consistent in taking our responses to the
Lord before we speak them to others. Great damage is done by thoughtless words
- whether we are the ones who speak them or we are the ones to whom they are
spoken.