If I had a nickel for every time I had opened my mouth and allowed some word to come out of it that was harsh or critical, I would be a rich woman. I don’t know about you, but sometimes it almost seems as if I am spouting criticism or into a major discussion (shall we call it a fight??) with a loved one before my brain or heart actually engages into the situation. Then afterward I think, “Why did you do that? You knew better than to get into that!!”
After walking this earthly sod for over 43 years, I should be better able to control my tongue, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen. Can anyone else relate?
Psalm 39 has a word for us on this topic and perhaps you need to hear it as badly as I. David gives us permission to go shopping—shopping for a muzzle for our mouths. I wonder if they make custom muzzles for mouths like mine??
In Psalm 39: 1-3 David says, ‘I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.” I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; And my heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:’
By this time in his life, David had apparently learned to hold his tongue, especially in the presence of the wicked. David knew that spouting off and criticizing or being harsh to others would not benefit anyone and it might cause him to commit sin before the Lord. It was preferable for David to simply close his mouth and say nothing than to say the wrong thing. David knew that it might take an actual muzzle to accomplish that. So, he purposed to say nothing at all. Oh, how this would benefit me, if only I would remember it!
When David chose to open his mouth and speak, however, he made sure he had the right audience-the Audience of One. David’s wisdom was evident in the remainder of Psalm 39 when he made the decision to vent his feelings only to God. God can take it. He already knows what is boiling and stewing inside of us so we might as well verbalize those feelings to Him.
In most situations, as we close our mouths before men and choose only to open them before God, we find a healing for our hurts and a calming of our anger. Just like David, as we stand in the presence of the Lord to vent our feelings, we realize how needful we are of God’s mercy and grace and how we should offer that same mercy and grace to others.
