Thanksgiving for God’s Help Against Lying Tongues A Psalm of Ascents

“I call on the Lord in my distress, and He answers me. Save me, O Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” (Psalm 120: 1, 6-7. NIV) [Read Psalm 120]

This Psalm has the introductory notation, “A Psalm of Ascents.” Although it is included within the thanksgiving psalms, it also has a special place as a psalm sung by pilgrims ascending the hill of Jerusalem on their way to the temple for special seasons of worship. Psalm 120, whose author is not indicated, was evidently written by a very homesick Jew, probably exiled in a foreign land during one of the many times when portions of the Jewish nation were taken captive and transplanted in bondage in a foreign land. He longed for the hills around Jerusalem and no doubt thought of going with others to worship. On every hand he heard strange language, and was, no doubt, cursed by those in whose land he was an exile. Think of homesickness. It creates a deep longing in the heart. Combine that with those who revile and curse the one who does not want to be in the strange land in the first place, and you begin to understand the situation this psalm addresses. When I read this psalm, and comments about it, I thought of our military personnel in foreign lands defending our country. Often they are reviled by the very ones they are trying to help. Such a situation does not relieve the homesickness that already is gnawing at their spirits. The subject of this psalm reminds us of the epistle of James in the New Testament and what he wrote about the tongue: “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:5-6. NIV)

God can bring victory over lies and deceit spread abroad by a contentious tongue. No matter where one lives or how many rumors are spread about a person within God’s fold, there can be victory. Prayer is a sure path to God’s help no matter where one lives or what is said about a person. When we live with integrity, we can overcome even the lying tongues of trouble-mongers. In contrast to the lying tongues, saved persons can have “tamed tongues and truthful lips” (Dr. Alton McEachern, comments on Psalms, The Disciple’s Study Bible. Nashville: Holman, 1988. p. 734). When our own Meshech and Kedar experiences come (Psalm 120:5), God is ready to help and defend us. Our tongue can thank and praise Him, knowing that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Selah!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, November 26, 2010

Two Kinds of Wisdom Compared

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hears, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:13-18, NIV)

James speaks very clearly in this passage on the two kinds of wisdom: that which is earthly and of the devil and that which is heavenly and of God. If we make parallel columns-left and right-and list the characteristics of each type of wisdom, we should see how easily we want to choose and work toward godly wisdom and the fruit it bears:

Earthly (devlish)wisdom			Heavenly (godly)wisdom
bitterness			purity
envy			peace-loving
selfish ambition			consideration of others
disorder			submission (to God)
			mercifulness
			bearing good fruit
			impartiality
			sincerity
			righteousness

The chart gives a visual of wisdom in its two aspects. How quickly we want the virtues and way of life represented by the right column. Godly wisdom saturates life with characteristics that lead to right living, good relationships, and "a harvest of righteousness." But we have to make the personal choice to follow this way of wisdom and then pray that God will keep us on task in producing these characteristics. Fruits of godly wisdom can be seen on a personal basis as we relate rightly to others in our daily dealings. Fruits of godly wisdom need to be evidenced in how our leaders bear up under pressure and seek godly wisdom. As I was thinking on these verses and praying about what to write, I received an e-mail (not so complimentary of our national leaders) on why we should get out and vote to bring about a change. I agree with the sentiment and the responsibility we have to exercise our right to vote and make our voice heard in government. Think what a difference we can make if we spend time praying earnestly for our leaders to seek godly wisdom. "Wisdom is God's will in action, not human knowledge in competition." (William M. Pinson, Jr.)

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Taming the Tongue

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment...Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on the fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell...But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." (James 3:1, 5-6, 8-10, NKJV) [Read James 3:1-12]

James gets right to the point in this passage on taming the tongue. He first gives a word of advice to those who are teachers in the church: "let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." The first person, "we" places himself in this category as teacher, and that he was. Because of the grave responsibility teachers have in the church of "rightly dividing the word of truth," James wanted them to consider and accept the responsibility as unto God. We stumble, because we are not perfect. Therefore, those who teach should take all the more heed to live a life above reproach. In this passage, James uses many poetic similes to emphasize the importance of the tongue. "though a little member" of the body, and its potential influence for evil. The tongue should have "bits" (controls) on it like a horse's bridle; it should have a rudder, like a ship, to guide it. Like a small spark sets afire a whole forest, so the tongue can defile the whole body, and do much harm. Beasts, birds and reptiles can be tamed, domesticated, but the tongue defies taming. "Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing" (v. 10). We do not see a spring producing good and bad water at the same time, nor does a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine figs, nor a spring salt and fresh water. The potential for controlling the tongue is there, but the person must exercise the taming process.

What are some of the "sins of the tongue" against which Christians should guard? There is that ever-present temptation to gossip, to pass "juicy" tidbits of information in conversation that can potentially harm the character of others and certainly cast dispersion on the teller-of-tales and label him/her as a "gossip". The temptations of lying, cursing, angry outbursts and bearing false testimony are some of the sins of the untamed tongue. To tame the tongue means thinking before on speaks and taking measures to control speech. Words, once spoke, can never be recalled. We cannot extinguish the first of doubt, anger, jealousy and hatred our tongue starts. Pray for discretion in speech and expression. Pray that God will control and guide our tongue. With it we praise Him. With it we speak truth.

Ethelene Dyer Jones; Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Controlling the Tongue

“A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives reproof is prudent” (Proverbs 15:1-5, NKJV).

Words roll from our tongues like waves flowing in from high tide—that is, if we are not too shy to speak. Most of us are ready with words and sometimes we do not give adequate thought to what we say or how we say it. The sage who compiled the Proverbs and many wise persons before and since have taught us the importance of controlling the tongue. James, writing in the New Testament, recognizing that the toungue is “a small member” yet, untamed, can wreak havoc, stated: “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:8-10 NKJV). I find it interesting that in the context of teaching about the power of the tongue and the importance of a son receiving his father’s wise instruction, is the strong statement: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). I remember that I was taught as a child that God is every place observing what we say and what we do. My Sunday School teachers at my country church were strong on this point. So were my parents as they tried to bring me up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And they taught, too, that what I spoke and how I said my words made a great difference to those who heard me. Even with this good instruction, it was not always easy to control the tongue; nor is it, even now.

We hear so many words: television blares forth words; we listen or not, as we will. Leaders of our government make promises, sometimes without substance. We hear instruction at church from teachers and ministers; again we hear and heed, or we allow the instruction to pass unheeded. And we ourselves talk, sometimes without first thinking about what we say. Talk is cheap or it bears weight, whichever value we choose for the work of our tongue. Good communication is at the heart of good human relationships. Language communicates both our intellect and our emotions.

From the heart we speak, and the sage gave instruction about that, too: “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). For today, could we begin the practice of giving a soft answer, of speaking the truth in love, of controlling the tongue, that small member of our body with such weighty influence? It might be hard, but with God’s watchfulness over the tongue, it is possible to wield a good influence, even in what we speak.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones, Tuesday, July 13, 2010