Psalm 141:1-4 "LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. (2) Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (3) Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. (4) Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties."
"Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth." It seems that hiding
behind a computer screen or our phones has given anonymity to us in that people
feel so much more at ease with their words. Words - now that is something that
carries a great impact on others. "Loose lips sink ships." Words can
build up and words can tear down. We all know this is true. Most, if not all,
of us have been either on the receiving or giving side of this. I see too
many posts on Facebook (since that's the only program that I participate in)
where people seem to want to see how mad they can make others or how they can
destroy the reputation of others. Yes, I guess I'm on a soapbox this morning,
but I don't understand how this can happen when in reality there can be so much
good that could be done. I do know how easy it is to let emotions get the best
of us. I know how easy it is to get caught up in someone else's anger. That's
when we need to cry out to the Lord, "Set a watch before my mouth, keep
the door of my lips."
It isn't a coincidence that our ears are open and our tongue has two gates in
front of it. Our lips and our teeth should remind us to think before we open
those gates for our tongue to speak. We read in the book of James 1:19,
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to
speak, slow to wrath." But even at that, I believe we must be careful what
we allow to go into our ears. We are prone to be swayed by those things we see
and hear. Again we read in Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the
power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
Whichever we set our minds to pursue will eventually begin to pursue us.
The usual phrase goes something like this: "Be careful or it will turn
around to bite you." I close with a verse from the Old Testament where God
said to Israel, " I have set before you life and death, blessing and
cursing..." (Deuteronomy 30:19) Will we use our mouths to tear down
someone else or speak life into them? Will we bless or curse ourselves by
trying to do so to others? Maybe we all need to give more thought to these
things?
1 Sing them over again to me,
wonderful words of life;
let me more of their beauty see,
wonderful words of life;
words of life and beauty,
teach me faith and duty.
Refrain:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.