The Tongue!

In the Korean War the US forces introduced mine detectors as part of their arsenal. It was a magnetic metal detector that would sniff out mines buried just under the sand, carefully planted by the enemy. Their objective, stop the advancing forces! They were very effective and if triggered they would undoubtedly serve their purpose by slowing down the advancing forces, it was one thing if a man died but quite another if he was maimed. Think about the field dressing and all that went with that and then we understand the effect these mines really had. Hidden traps disguised with their surroundings, not easily seen but extremely effective if triggered!

David was a man fully aware of the evil ones traps; He understood that a man’s mouth could be used against him and that is why he prayed this prayer; “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalms 141:3) – The Apostle James teaches the exact same lesson but with more insight attached to it; “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.” (James 3:2-3) – I suppose traps are set in front of us to trigger the tongue in order to disqualify the believer, to get people to say, “And he says he is a Christian.” James teaches that if we learn to bridle the tongue we will also be in control of our bodies; this is a very interesting consideration. Discipline must then start with our tongues, may God help us to take what we say seriously! By implication if we resolve and ask God to keep a guard over our mouths and set a guard to keep watch over the door of our lips, we will then travel through the mine fields of life with the greatest of mines detectors as part of a daily resource.

I do believe the point James is making is the tongue is the root cause of our daily sin! “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”

Matthew Henry has this to say on this topic; “Were we to think more of our own mistakes and offenses, we should be less apt to judge other people. While we are severe against what we count offensive in others, we do not consider how much there is in us which is justly offensive to them. Self-justifiers are commonly self-deceivers. We are all guilty before God; and those who vaunt it over the frailties and infirmities of others little think how many things they offend in themselves. Nay, perhaps their magisterial deportment, and censorious tongues, may prove worse than any faults they condemn in others. Let us learn to be severe in judging ourselves, but charitable in our judgments of other people.

II. We are taught to govern our tongue so as to prove ourselves perfect and upright men, and such as have an entire government over ourselves: If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. It is here implied that he whose conscience is affected by tongue-sins, and who takes care to avoid them, is an upright man, and has an undoubted sign of true grace. But, on the other hand, if a man seemeth to be religious (as was declared in the first chapter) and bridleth not his tongue, whatever profession he makes, that man's religion is vain. Further, he that offends not in word will not only prove himself a sincere Christian, but a very much advanced and improved Christian. For the wisdom and grace which enable him to rule his tongue will enable him also to rule all his actions.”

If we follow the progression of David’s Psalm, he is mindful of the traps that lie ahead. Evildoers are lying in wait for him to be caught in their snares, but he is all about keeping his eyes fixed on his God and we too must be as resolute, with our eyes fixed on our God! “But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.” (Psalm 141:8-10)

Signing off

Tyrone