Verse for the week of September 27th:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
This verse from Scripture is one that I have heard used at the beginning of many sermons. It becomes the prayer of the pastor prior to preaching–praying that the words that are said would be acceptable to God.
However, this should not just be a prayer of pastors but of all those who call upon the name of Jesus. We should all strive to constantly seek to have the words that we speak be acceptable to God.
The Apostle James in his letter talks about the dangers of our words. He writes (James 3:;4-12):
‘Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. [5] So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! [6] And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. [7] For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. [8] But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; [10] from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. [11] Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? [12] Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.’
It is amazing how much damage can be done with the tongue. Many of us speak first and then think. This can cause hurt feelings and damage relationships (sometimes almost beyond repair). I know in my own life—there have been times when I begin to say something and then would like to be able to grab the words as they come out of my mouth and shove them back in.
The verse from the 19th Psalm serves as a constant reminder that our words do have impact and this verse can be a prayer for us to attempt to consistently have our words not be destructive, hurtful, or damaging—but words that are acceptable to God which would be words that uplift, encourage and praise.
The tongue is a difficult part of the body to tame—one way that can be helpful as we seek to tame our tongue is to have the words of Psalm 19 constantly on our minds and lips—Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD.
As I read this verse, I thought that it is not only what comes out of our mouth that should be acceptable, but also that there are times we might be silent and the failure to speak up might be “unacceptable’ in the eyes of the Lord. “to permit is to promote”