How often have words from our mouths hurt ourselves and others? How many relationships have been shipwrecked by a single sentence? In James 3:2, the Bible says, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” James 3:5 warns us, “The tongue is a little member and boasts great things.”
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” In Matthew 12:37, Jesus revealed to us, “By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Thus, the Holy Spirit helped David to avoid sinning with his tongue. God’s Spirit muzzled and muted his mouth in the presence of his enemies. He helped him to hold his peace.
When David’s heart grew hot within him, what did he do it about it? He used his tongue to pray. He prayed, “Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am.” An excellent prayer!
I wish I had known my end from the beginning. Now that I am older, and now that the Lord has helped me to discern more about myself than I could see before, I experience sorrows of heart. I know God has forgiven my sins, but alas, some of my words and deeds have hurt people, and especially made God’s heart sad.
My life on earth is not yet over, so on the one hand, I want to continue to pray that the Lord will keep me mindful of the day I shall meet Him, and on the other hand, I pray that the Lord will help me to make amends with those I have hurt.
We know that we shall die, but some refuse to think about it. David prayed, “Lord, make me to consider my end.” For those in Christ, the end is the end of grief, for those without Christ the end is the end of happiness. Prudence says, “Embrace Christ! End with Him in paradise!”
The Lord recommends that we ask for His help before we talk with people. The Holy Spirit who helped David to restrain his tongue and muzzle his mouth, will help us as well.
Mouths, tongues and words used in worship to the Lord are good uses of such.
David gave the words of this song to Jeduthun. Jeduthun is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 16:37-42 along with Asaph and Heman as chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord. He and they did so with trumpets, cymbals, musical instruments and singers. According to 1 Chronicles 25:2-4, Jeduthun had six sons, Asaph had four sons and Heman had fourteen sons who were on the worship team. 1 Chronicles 25:1 says that they prophesied with their instruments. 1 Chronicles 25:5 says that Heman was David’s seer in the words of God. These worship leaders enjoyed a close relationship with the Lord as should be the case with all who lead others in worship to God.
David wanted his words to bless not curse. In James 3:10-11, the Bible says, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?”
David was resolved to “take heed to” his “ways.” He did not want to speak bitter words. He did not want to say words that might harden his listeners or give them occasion to blaspheme. [1]
In Matthew 7:6, Jesus said, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” If your hearers have made it known to you that they don’t want you to talk about God, don’t provoke them.
In Ephesians 4:29, the Bible says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
By God’s grace, David was able to bridle his tongue, but the passion within him grew hot. It was as a fire in his bones. After so much silence, he vented his passion before the Lord.
“Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You. Certainly, every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah! Surely every man walks about like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up riches and does not know who will gather them.” Psalm 39:5-6
“Man takes a great deal of pains to heap up riches, and they are but like heaps of manure in the furrows of the field, good for nothing unless they be spread.” [2]
“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7
When David thought about the future, he thought about the Lord. He hoped in the Lord.
In 1 Timothy 6:17, Paul wrote to his disciple Timothy, saying, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
“Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the reproach of the foolish. I was mute, I did not open my mouth, because it was You who did it.” Psalm 39:8-9
Only the Lord could and would forgive all David’s transgressions. In Psalm 32:5, David wrote, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
Only the Lord could keep the reproaches of fools from reaching David’s ears.
Who did God call a fool in the Bible? In Luke 12:19-20, God called the man who laid up treasures for himself on earth and was not rich toward God a fool. God suddenly required his soul and he could not take his riches with him.
What does God say about speaking with fools? In Proverbs 23:9, He says, “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool for he will despise the wisdom of your words.” In Proverbs 14:7, He says, “Go from the presence of a foolish man when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.”
“Remove Your plague from me. I am consumed by the blow of Your hand. When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth. Surely every man is vapor. Selah! Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry. Do not be silent at my tears, for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner, as all my fathers were. Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, before I go away and am no more.” Psalm 39:10-13
Plagued! Struck by the hand of God! Rebuked! His beauty removed! Feeling estranged! A speaker for God may feel at times that God is unfair due to the treatment he or she receives in this world. What kind of treatment did our Lord Jesus experience when He walked among us?
Isaiah 52:14 says of Christ that His appearance was marred more than any man. Isaiah 53:2 says that He had no beauty that we should desire Him. Isaiah 53:3 says that people hid their faces from Him and that He was despised. Isaiah 53:4-5 says that He was struck and afflicted by God. He was chastised, wounded and bruised by God for our sins. While hanging on the cross, He cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” When the sun stopped shining during daylight hours, and the earth quaked, it seemed to say, “God has turned His face from You His Son.” He was taken away and laid in a tomb. It seemed that He was to be no more.
However, the Gospel is that on the third day after Jesus Christ was laid in the tomb, He was resurrected from the dead to die no more.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the promise that God made to David in 2 Samuel 7:13-16, where God said, “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your Seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish His kingdom. He shall build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever. I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son... And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” Hallelujah!
One way to frame suffering for Christ is to rejoice that He has counted you worthy to embody His ministry here on earth. In Acts 5:40-41, after the disciples had been beaten for testifying for Christ, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name.” Such suffering is a powerful witness to unbelievers, and in Revelation 2:10, the Lord says, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Being mindful of our “end” here (earth), helps us to live productively for Christ until there (heaven).
Praise the Lord!
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary – edited for readability
[2] Ibid
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