Psalm 51 – 52

The Tongue and Its Influence

Let’s wrap up Chapter 51 with what David says after pleading for forgiveness and mercy and then at verse 13 adds, saying:

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

This was a line I suggested was applicable to us today. Now listen to what David says will result when he realizes the former joy and free spirit present in him, saying:

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

We are going to address this statement when we cover chapter 52 in a moment but know this, the passage directly accords with what Yeshua said about the “living well of water” within those who receive Him to the woman at the well and that, “He would give to all who ask water that not only refreshes and hydrates the individual, but it flows out to others.” This is going to serve as several part teaching I want to call, PRINCIPLES in the modern age of Christian faith and we will soon describe the first of those which will serve as the basis for this series as we journey through the Psalms.

The Natural Reaction to Christ

I would suggest that this is the natural reaction to Christ in any person – the flowing out of Him through selfless acts of agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty.. If that is not present, they are either immature believers, unable to bear forth His fruit yet or they have yet discovered Him in them. David continues with his own petition saying at verse 14:

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

The Chaldee version translates this as, “Deliver me from the judgment of slaughter.” Which hearkens, I believe, to the law of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” and the adage that “He who lives by the sword will die by the sword,” he knows he deserves to be killed for his crimes. The idea that when all of David’s requests are made, David’s tongue shall “praise the righteousness of God,” suggesting that in his state of a forgiven mind he would not be able to refrain from singing God’s goodness.

With a heart believing unto righteousness, David then proclaims:

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

The Sacrifices of God

And then we have an affirmation of a principle I think David knew well as he states in verse 16-17 and which we covered back in Psalm 40:

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

These are a couple of passages that reiterate the fact that David fully understood that the living God was only pleased by the honest state of the heart and not the sacrificial blood or burnt offerings of animals and that his own broken heart and contrite spirit was what he really relied upon before Him. David concludes with:

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Which most scholars believe takes this Psalm and time stamps it to the National Captivity to happen centuries later. I have a different take. David was in Jerusalem when he first saw Bathsheba. She was bathing on a roof-top and he looked down from his digs and was overcome with lust. Then she got pregnant, then he started doing what Adam did, making fig leaves, hiding, manipulating the circumstance, getting further and further away from God’s Mark and this caused the Kingdom, at that time and in Jerusalem to shake – and I suggest that this last verse is a Hebrew response to that, then – and not the captivity that would come later.

Okay, I think we ought to cover Psalm 52, which is only nine verses but it speaks to a Principle that I believe deserves attention. Let’s read it:

Psalm 52:1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. >> Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O

The Power of the Tongue

Thou deceitful tongue. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

Last week we discussed the import of Yeshua being matured in believers to the point that he is fully present in breadth, width, length and height. Something I remain unsure is possible while we remain in flesh but it was a wish of Paul’s for the believers in His day.

Paul’s Desires for Believers

Speaking of Paul, he stated four items of desire relative to Christ with the first being to

GRAPHIC

To KNOW HIM, And the POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION “and the FELLOWSHIP of His Sufferings,” and “Being made CONFORMABLE to His deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God..” In other words, by the power of His resurrection, things we might choose to enter, “the fellowship of His sufferings, which make us conformable to His death on the cross. Which helps explain what Paul means when he wrote in Romans 8 to the Bride, Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

But let’s be really clear – the fellowship of His sufferings are all self-willed and have nothing to do with God loving us more nor entering His Kingdom. They have to do with an individual, choosing to submit their flesh and will up and over to Him in deeper and deeper fashions as a means to be like Him for the simple reason that this is God’s desire for His children.

The Fellowship of His Sufferings

Do not let these teachings on the maturation process of a devoted believer swamp you or bring you down into bondage. They are of the spirit and when each person feels led and then they are received and done by and through the power of His Resurrection. Just like God seeks from us a “broken heart and a contrite spirit,” and that when it comes to this state we choose it – it is within our realm of choices, and that tacitly suggests that we humble ourselves, again a choice we make – God cannot humble the proud of heart – so to do we, in His name, and as His children, seek to enter in the “fellowship of His sufferings,” in our choice to be “conformable to His death.”

So taking a couple verses from this Psalm I want to address one element some of us might choose as His children that illustrates our experiencing “the fellowship of His sufferings.” Before engaging I want you to know that I am publicly choosing to commit to all that we will talk about today, by the Spirit, because it is telling me that I need to personally surrender more to this form of His suffering as it is not in harmony with my being a Son.

Let’s hear the principle in verses 2-4 as it says, Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. After doing this teaching I am convicted and commit today before you all a dedication to right the areas in my life where my tongue forms words and communications not worthy of Him.

Please note that I would never do this through religion and have proven this over the years, but only by the Spirit when the Spirit convicts me. And I stand convinced. Of course the tongue is a metonym for our speech, words, talk and chosen communications. Unless God is speaking through us, our words, like humility, are in the power of our will and our emotions and probably better indicate the maturity of Christ in us more than any.

The Power of Words

Other single evidence – because they are a constant choice and are forever subject to failure in the human experience. In other words, it’s easy to comport our words when we are in the presence of authority or the public eye but look out when we are angry, gossipy, in the flesh and the like. All of it boils down to . . . word choice and delivery because how we say something is as important as what we say and the words we use to say it.

Scriptural References

Yeshua made the origin of the problem clear when He said to the Pharisees of His day, Matthew 12:34-37 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Three chapters later we read Him SAY these words, Matthew 15:10-11 Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Why so, and what is the principle behind these thoughts about our words that we might consider today?

Let’s go back to the beginning of scripture and remember what Genesis 1 says, Genesis 1:3-4 And God said, “Let there be light:” and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. Because the scripture says that in God there is “no shadow of turning,” and because it says “that God cannot lie,” nor “can He sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. or cause us to sin,” we can suppose that whatever words come from Him, whatever He speaks or says, is true, that they guide and that they give life. This is the God we worship – our Father – the God who spoke all things into existence and called them good, right?

So there seems to be a direct relationship between our being made in His image, and the power of the words we also choose (again, it is always a choice) to speak and how we choose to speak them. Of course, looking to God we know that His very words, by which He created all things, came into the world and taught/spoke what could have only been truth, because again, He was the way, the truth and the life, just like God’s very words are true, guide and bring life.

The Choice of Words

After teaching the Jews that He was the bread of life in John 6, many left off following Him because He spoke hard things, proving another aspect of the words we speak – they will divide – just as the light divides the dark. But after this Yeshua said to the twelve, in John 6:67-68 Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Herein lies the rub we all face as human beings seeking to let Christ reign – will we allow Him, through us, to also speak “the words of eternal life?” encouraging, uplifting and creating new life in those we encounter, or will we, though our own will and emotions, choose to use words that are shadowy, fail, and have no life in them? Words that lead to death and have no place in the Kingdom now or there?

Because our words and the way we say them is as much of a choice on our part as humbling ourselves and having a broken and contrite heart before God, the subject is quite sobering, isn’t it? But think about it. Only the most deranged and uncontrolled souls have zero control over what comes out of their mouths, right? And even that is subject to debate. But these types can stand in front judges, popes and unleash all manner of words out of their heart without any seeming ability to do otherwise.

But outside of insanity, most of us are able to comport ourselves including our words according to circumstances, aren’t we? Funerals. Public speeches. In front of parents, children and other situations, right? This fact proves that we, for the most part, choose and therefore have the capacity to govern the words we allow. Unfortunately, when we do

The Power of Words

This – elect to speak one way in one circumstance and another way in another, what we are doing, as His Children, is not wisdom, its Hypocrisy – which is why, in my weakness of the flesh I will drop an f bomb irrespective of the audience. None the less I have seen in my life that the F bombs are not part of “the fellowship of His sufferings” neither are they “conformable to His death,” but instead evidenced the power of my living flesh, my anger, my ego and pride. I repent before God in spiritual sackcloth and ashes. Not because I think He will love me more, but because I want to understand the fellowship of His suffering being conformable to His death as a means to, like Him, bring forth living waters to all I see and do and not death.

James speaks to the hypocrisy of those of us who look to God in prayer and faith but circumstantially use their mouths errantly when he said,

The Unruly Tongue

James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Herein we choose to enter into one of Paul’s definition of agape love as he defined one of its characteristics as including, “self-control,” conveyed in the King James as “temperance,” as we read in Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And then he adds, 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Where the scripture describes believers being joint-heirs if they suffer with Christ, and Paul, seeking to receive the exanastasis by and through knowing Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; we too, if inclined and when led of His Spirit, may want to elect to choose the very same words of the Son as He provides them and how to say them, and turning from words of death that bear no fruit.

Words that Encourage or Harm

Being made us in His image, and I would repeat that all souls have a choice in the words we use – words that guide, shine light and bring life, words that encourage, bring unity, dissolve guilt and shame or words that stumble, encourage division, shame and introduce darkness, ultimately supporting . . . death. Think about the times when we are raging mad and if or when we lack the control to govern the hateful contents of our hearts. Think about the times when we use words to discourage, ravage, and harm. It is these instances where our tongues convey the contents of our fleshly hearts, and minds, and can do such damage to those we aim them at. That bromide, “sticks and stones may break my bones but names can never hurt me” is one of the biggest lies created by man, isn’t it?

And God knows that, and so the scripture is ripe with instruction about the use of our tongues and the need to allow something stronger to speak on our behalf. The spectrum of words and their power to encourage and heal or discourage and harm is wide, and a study from the inspired writers aid those who care in understanding that we, made in God’s image, make the choice on how we use them. Vulgarity. Gossip. Condemnation. Accusation. Innuendo. Evil suggestions. Mercilessness – it all comes from our mouth.

The Power of the Tongue

Interestingly, Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Literally meaning that our words can have direct impact on the hearts, minds and lives of the neighbors we are called to love. But the frightening reality about our words is they, like Christ said, are clearly from the heart of the Speaker? To the Nation in His day, Christ said, speaking of the judgement ahead of them, Matthew 12:36-37 “I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” The term He used, translated, “empty

The Power of Words and Accountability

“Idle word” in the King James means “inactive, dead, hollow,” literally representing non-eternality and, frankly, the Dark. But this passage highlights the accountability associated with the words we are free to speak and makes me wonder about them and how they contribute to our afterlife anastasis? I say that because just as God created all things by His word and perhaps being made in His image we too help create or form our eternal habitations, at least in part, through the words we elect to say and the way we say them. I see this idea as viable based on the allusions in the text of words to themes of “sowing (planting, sharing) words,” a theme used in scripture.

Of course, we recall in Mark 4:3 and Matthew 13:3, Jesus uses the analogy of a sower scattering seeds to illustrate how the message of the gospel (or what I believe could be any message) can be received and understood by different people. He explains that the seeds represent words, and the soil represents the hearts of those who hear them. Some hearts are receptive and produce a good harvest, while others are barren or choked by other concerns. But the point is, words scattered, whether about Him, will grow, and this tacitly suggests the possibility that the words or seeds we cast, like our Makers, will either bring forth fruit in the lives of others, or not. Because we are ultimately rewarded by the fruit of our existences in this proving GROUND, perhaps the words we choose to use will be involved in the overall assessment.

Words and Their Influence

Understand, I am NOT in any way suggesting we use evil words to religiously condemn those who do the same. That is like beating a child who hits others. No, this is not religion – this is a choice – but I would be remiss if we did not investigate the principle. How does this subject relate to our knowing the “fellowship of His suffering,” being made “conformable to His death.” Because word choice and delivery certainly involves suffering our flesh to take a back seat to His Spirit. We all know the ease with which our words and the way we say them are easily cast. Some of you might have experienced the pleasure when delivering them out like a fire-hydrant of death. But to know the fellowship of His sufferings is to know the pain and discomfort of restraining our words and the nuance of how we say them. And this perfectly resonates to “the fellowship of His sufferings.”

I could use my own words to describe what the scripture says, but perhaps there is something foolish even in that. So let’s wrap this teaching up by reading some passages that say things much better than I ever could, beginning with Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Psalm 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 141:3: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” Proverbs 10:19: “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”

Control of the Tongue

Of course, the greatest chapter on our tongue and the words we say and how we say them is James 3 and is worthy of reading all 18 verses as the brother of our Lord wrote: James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. It’s an interesting insight, isn’t it? If we can control our words, we can control our whole body? And then he gives an example, saying, 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members.

The Power of the Tongue

That it defiles the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of gehenna. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Did you catch it – no man can tame the tongue – therefore it can only happen by submission to Him within as He introduces us to the “fellowship of His sufferings” being “comformable to His death.” And then he gives the example of our hypocrisy from verse 9 to 12, saying, Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Wisdom from Above

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. Now listen to how James describes the words we who seek to govern our words would choose, saying, But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Personal Commitment

Herein is my aim beginning today, as I repent before you all, begging your forgiveness and to choose to govern my tongue in every matter, humbly, contritely and through the power of His resurrection. To refrain from easy vulgarities I am so accustom to saying, from gossip, judgement, or ever engaging in talk behind the back of others. Taking the words of Paul from Galatians 6 to heart, as he wrote of the subjective walk we all face, Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

May the living God, in and through the Spirit of His Son, reign over those who will allow Him, and may we see every offering of our flesh as an offering of gratitude, not compulsion, not of religion, but of Him, His resurrection, His sufferings, and His death.

Comments/Questions
PRAYER

Parker

“All I need is a sheet of paper and something to write with, and then I can turn the world upside down.” -Friedrich Nietzsche

“Words are seeds that do more than blow around. They land in our hearts and not the ground. Be careful what you plant and careful what you say. You might have to eat what you planted one day.”