Watch What You Say

           Some people love confrontation.  Others do not.  I am the type of person that doesn't really like it.  Some times, I would find myself in a place of opposition in that I would want to say something with a more opposing view than other members of the group but reluctant to do so.  It usually ended up with people trying to outwit one another and to see who could come up with the best argument and the last word on any given matter and I never seemed to be able to do that.  At times, knowing what was likely to happen, I would write on the top of my agenda notes, "Keep your mouth shut!"  Other times, I would even come up with my own Spanish phrase, "Cierra la boca."  It is in those times that I would recall my Father's words, “It is better to be thought of as a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” It worked for me.  But, I think the Psalmist had a better idea.   Psalm 17:3 says, "Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress."  

           You notice that words can't be taken back.  Once you say something, it is out there for all eternity and there is nothing that you can do to retrieve what you said.  It is gone.  This same verse in another translation reads, "You have scrutinized my inner motives; you have examined me during the night.  You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin.  I am determined I will say nothing sinful."  The word "purposed" in the KJV is the one I want to zero in on today.  Sometimes, it is necessary to purpose to do something or as in this case, not to do something.  If a person has no purpose, then, they just seem to "react" to what takes place around them.  They say what they think regardless of who they hurt.  After all, they assume that is their right.  The Psalmist however, wishes to not sin or to not say anything sinful.  Those sinful words are the worst ones.  They hurt people, they give wrong information, they puff up the speaker and worst of all, they can't be taken back.  Maybe you have tried to take back words that you have spoken.  It usually begins with the phrase, "Oh, I was only joking."  You already know that is not true.  It is just one more sin that has been added to the speaker's already growing list.  It would be far better for us to get up in the morning and say as did the writer of the Psalms, "...I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress."  Praise God today that He has the power to control our tongue.