Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:11:20 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna Apr. 28-BP: Ps. 141; RBTTY: Lk. 20:1-26; I Kings 3-5
April 28 “Lip Sentries”
“Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”
Psalm 141:3
When He reigns in the heart, He’ll also be Master of the mouth.
We all know “loose lips sink ships.” They also strain relationships. . .split churches... incite wars. . .and certainly do great damage to the
The Hebrew word “shomrah” is used here for “a watch” and basically means “to post a guard, sentry, to be watchful over, hedge about, etc.,” while “natsar” is used for “keep” and also means “to protect, guard, preserve, etc.” Thus, it’s a picture of pro-active watch-care—or, militant means to keep the “enemy” under control.
In the context of the Manna, we know the “enemy” is our mouth and the venomous verbs. . .nasty nouns. . .acrid adjectives and adverbs. . .prickly prepositions, etc., that always seem to lurk near the door of our lips. Like prisoners yearning to escape, these sinful sentences and incorrigible invectives—which reside in our heart—seem to love springing into the open at the slightest crack in the door.
That’s why we must pray as David did:
“O Lord, post a guard before my mouth to capture couriers of criticism and cynicism before they can escape. Place a lock on my lips by the Holy Spirit to help bridle my tongue lest unholy words escape from within and grieve Your holy heart.”
As we know, this is not easy (James 3:1-12). We know it only takes a few barbed words here and there to catch the proverbial woods on fire (vv.5-6). Likewise, we know that we, like the poisonous snake, also have vicious venom lying beneath our tongue, ready to be unleashed in a split-second, given the right conditions (v.8).
However, in praying today’s Manna—and meaning it with all of our heart—we will soon find the Holy Spirit helping us pray before we pronounce. . .meditate before we murmur. . .and utter blessings before spewing curses. Only then can we learn how to not “offend in word and grow into spiritual maturity” (James 3:2).
Dear Pilgrim, do you have a “hair trigger” on your tongue? Do you, more times than not, find yourself “giving someone a piece of your mind” before you think and then regretting it later?
If so, why not stop right now and pray this Manna to the Heavenly Father? Why not also pray, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation (Heb. ‘higgayown’—‘a murmuring sound, machination, rumination, to ponder, contemplate, etc.’) of my heart be acceptable (Heb. ‘ratsown’—‘pleasing, delightful, desirable, fragrant, etc.’) in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer” (Ps. 19:14)? With the Spirit’s help and our continual surrender to Him, we’ll soon see a change in our “mouth’s musings” because of the change in our “heart’s meditations.” Hallelujah!!
Thanks,
Mr. Lynn M. Smith
Department Business Administrator
Department of Economics
204C McElhinney Hall
(713) 743-3802 (office)
(713) 743-3798 (fax)
LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)
http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)
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