“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? A warrior’s sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree! Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!” (v1-7)
This psalm poetically describes the difficulties of taming one’s tongue. It has the ability to fire flaming arrows, causing great harm. The unnamed author clearly struggles with sinning through their words – lying and deceiving people. Their heart is made known to us: they don’t wish to lie, the tongue seems to have a mind of its own.
“How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (Jas 3:5b-10) As you can see, James has a great deal to say about our tongues (that quote was less than half of it…), with some pretty strong words against a misused tongue (to paraphrase: it spews the fire of hell – yikes).
So how do we deal with this deadly weapon, can can slaughter tens of thousands and lay waste to entire countries? Well, James follows up his tirade against the tongue with this advise: “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (Jas 3:13,17-18)
My takeaway for today is a strong reminder that we cannot hope to tame the tongue on our own – the psalmist and James both recognized that. Our only hope is the “wisdom from above”, the wisdom that God provides through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Father God, all honor, praise and glory be to You, the wise and generous King who gives wisdom to all. May we come to fully rely on You for guidance and understanding in all that we say and do. Father we ask that You would please be the provider of self-control as we seek to extinguish the flames of our tongues. May You provide the words that we share with others – words for encouraging and edifying, not discouraging and destroying. In the power of Jesus’ holy name we ask this, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training