Topic: Words
Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” That is a verse that is as profound as it is strong. This verse is a prayer, a plea, a heart's cry for God's help in controlling our speech. It is a humble acknowledgement of our need for God's intervention in taming our tongue, treating our words as medicine, and trusting the Lord as our guard. Benjamin Franklin said, "A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over." These words, though penned in a different era, ring true today, reminding us of the power of our words and the need to use them wisely.
The words we speak can be likened to a wild beast. They can be gentle and soothing, bringing comfort and healing to those around us. Or they can be fierce and destructive, causing pain and heartache. The Bible is replete with warnings about the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." James 3:6 describes the tongue as "a fire, a world of iniquity." Our speech has the potential to do great harm or great good. It's clear that we need God's help to harness this power. We need His help to tame our tongues. This is the plea of the Psalmist in Psalm 141:3. He's asking God to set a guard over his mouth, to keep watch over the door of his lips. He's acknowledging his inability to control his speech and his need for divine intervention.
The Psalmist is sharing with us the importance of actively surrendering our speech to God. This is an ongoing, daily decision to yield our words to the Lord. It involves constantly checking our speech against the standard of God's Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us when our words do not align with His truth.
A.W. Tozer quote, "What comes out of our mouths is determined by what goes into our minds." This quote underscores the importance of filling our minds with God's Word, so that our speech may reflect His love, His truth, and His grace. It is a reminder that our words are a reflection of our hearts, and as such, they should be guarded with the utmost care.
As we continue to ponder on Psalm 141:3, we find ourselves drawn to the image of our words as medicine. It's a compelling metaphor, isn't it? Our words, like medicine, have the power to heal or to harm, to build up or to break down. Consider the words of Proverbs 16:24, "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." Here, we see the healing potential of our words. Gracious words, words that are kind, compassionate, and considerate, can bring sweetness to the soul and health to the body. They can lift a person's spirit, lighten their load, and lead them to a place of peace and positivity.
Let's remember that our words reflect what's in our hearts. So, let's ask God to create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. Let's ask Him to fill our hearts with His love, His grace, His wisdom, so that our words will be a reflection of Him.
See you Sunday!
Dr. Scott Kallem