The Tongue
Rules
Biblical
truth is designed to lead us out of a world of
deceit. David’s relationship with God was built upon
God’s covenant—God’s word—God’s promises. He was
surrounded by those ruling with the power of their
tongues. Their words were rising from impure hearts.
David chose to focus on God’s flawless promises.
Psalms 12:1-7
12:1 For the director of music.
According to sheminith. A psalm of David.
Help, LORD, for the godly are no
more;
the faithful have vanished from among
men.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbor;
their flattering lips speak with
deception.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering
lips
and every boastful tongue
4 that says, "We will triumph with
our tongues;
we own our lips — who is our master?"
5 "Because of the oppression of the
weak
and the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise," says the LORD.
"I will protect them from those who
malign them."
6 And the words of the LORD are
flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace of
clay,
purified seven times.
7 O LORD, you will keep us safe
and protect us from such people
forever.
8 The wicked freely strut about
when what is vile is honored among
men. NIV
This is a
dire description of the psalmist’s world. Sycophants
rule with deception, flattering lips and boastful
words as they oppress the weak and helpless. They
seek to rule by the power of the tongue. The depth
of moral deception leads the writer to conclude the
godly have vanished—the faithful are no more. It
seems David was no match for them, yet, David
depended upon ONE whose words were as powerful as
they were flawless.
Psalms 12:6-7
6 And the words of the LORD are
flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace of
clay,
purified seven times.
7 O LORD, you will keep us safe
and protect us from such people
forever.
David’s
faith goes beyond carrying around a biblical scroll
he believes to be inspired of the Holy Spirit. As
David mediates on Scripture he seeks to understand
Scripture in the context of his personal life. David
mediates on God’s word as he seeks to survive in the
here and now reality of life. He is surrounded by
deceit and lies. Evil reigns. Rather than seeking to
out talk his enemies, David reminds himself who is
in charge. David reminds himself that God’s words
are flawless. David understands that God will be
flawless in fulfilling his promises to him. He
doesn’t just meditate on God’s word to gain more
knowledge—he mediates on God’s word to hold on to
the hope God offers.
Hebrews 6:16-20
16 Men swear by someone greater than
themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and
puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted
to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very
clear to the heirs of what was promised, he
confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that,
by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible
for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the
hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We
have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and
secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the
curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has
entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest
forever, in the order of Melchizedek. NIV
David takes
courage. God’s promises allow him to anchor his
hopes and dreams in God’s determination to salvage
his life. He knows God’s nature is unchangeable. God
doesn’t say yes today and no tomorrow. God’s words
are not frivolous. The words of God are
flawless—they are accurate—they are immutable. What
God says will come to pass. God speaks with
accuracy. When God speaks he means what he says. He
always carries through with his purpose for our
lives. He has the power to do so. God’s word is his
bond. He does not misspeak. God’s word is pure and
unadulterated. His words come forth from his purity.
God’s word is forever being actively fulfilled as he
sustains our world. He will do what he has purposed
and promised. It is impossible for him to do
otherwise. God’s word is powerful for God is
sovereign.
Reminding
Ourselves of God’s Faithfulness
Jesus says,
heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s promises
will come to pass (Matthew 5:18). Although we know
God is true to his word, trying times often lead us
to entertain doubts about God as David does in
Psalms 13.
Psalms 13:1-6
For the director of music. A psalm of
David.
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me
forever?
How long will you hide your face from
me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my
thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my
heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over
me?
3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my
God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will
sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome
him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me. NIV
As David
struggles with his enemies, his emotions are
wavering. At times David is confident; then there
are times when David feels as though God has
forgotten him. As David entertains such thoughts he
reminds himself of God’s unfailing love. David prays
that God will give light to his eyes as he is
overwhelmed with darkness.
Psalms 13:3-4
3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my
God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will
sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome
him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
David
longed for the light of God’s deliverance. He longed
for what Paul received in Corinth.
Acts 18:9-11
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in
a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do
not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is
going to attack and harm you, because I have many
people in this city." 11 So Paul stayed for a year
and a half, teaching them the word of God. NIV
Religion is
something we practice; salvation is what we
experience in life’s struggles. Salvation is what
Paul experienced as God spoke to him in Corinth.
Paul experienced God’s salvation in Asia also.
2 Corinthians 1:8-11
8 We do not want you to be
uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we
suffered in the province of Asia. We were under
great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so
that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our
hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this
happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on
God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us
from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On
him we have set our hope that he will continue to
deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then
many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious
favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
NIV
Paul says
God leads us through trying times to bring us to
this realization, ". . . this happened that we might
not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the
dead." When this happens it gives those around us a
reason to "give thanks on our behalf for the
gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers
of many." It gives all a reason to praise God.
David was
depending upon God to resurrect his life in the
midst of an evil world. David reminds himself of
God’s promise. God says:
Psalms 12:4-5
5 "Because of the oppression of the
weak
and the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise," says the LORD.
"I will protect them from those who
malign them."
6 And the words of the LORD are
flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace of
clay,
purified seven times. NIV
David’s
conclusion as he mediates is:
Psalms 12:7-8
7 O LORD, you will keep us safe
and protect us from such people
forever.
8 The wicked freely strut about
when what is vile is honored among
men. NIV
Psalms 13:5-6
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me. NIV
Conclusion:
Evil begins
with lies. We can become so mesmerized by the
world’s deception that we lose our sense of
direction, even our sense of self. Hitler was an
effective communicator. The influence of his words
hurled the entire world into war. Those following
him lost all sense of moral direction. Eve was led
into sin by deceptive words. Satan’s words plunged
the world into chaos; the chaos continues to
devastate our world today.
E. R.
Beadle said, "Half the work that is done in the
world is to make things appear what they are not."
When you
feel forsaken by God, remember Christians are living
in the Kingdom of which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed. His
God given dream is coming to pass in our lives
through Jesus Christ at this very moment. Our future
is as bright and flawless as Daniel’s interpretation
of Nebuchadnezzar dream over 2500 years ago. Daniel
and Nebuchadnezzar are long gone, but God has been
true to his word. His words have been flawless and
potent. These thoughts give light to our eyes. We
are reminded that God is forever on his throne and
his words are actively coming to pass in our lives
this very moment.
Coming to
Christ is about experiencing salvation moment by
moment as God works to salvage our lives. Salvation
is about trusting God to work in our lives to
accomplish his purpose for each of us. Ultimately
God’s final goal is to reign with each of us in
eternity. This is what he is preparing us for here
on earth.
Luke 18:29-30
29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus said
to them, "no one who has left home or wife or
brothers or parents or children for the sake of the
kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as
much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal
life." NIV
1 Peter 3:10-12
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
11 He must turn from evil and do
good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on
the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their
prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against
those who do evil. NIV
