Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh (Job 5:21).
Although "the tongue of the wise is health" (Prov. 12:18) and "a wholesome tongue is a tree of life" (Prov. 15:4), it is certainly true that a slanderous tongue is sharpened like that of a serpent (Ps 140:3). It is spoken of in Psalm 57:4 as a sharp sword. There are many people who hide wickedness under their tongues (Job 20:12).
It is true that the day will come when "every tongue shall confess to God" (Rom. 14:11). But there are those who do not now bridle their tongues (James 1:26), and in such cases "the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity" (James 3:6). It separates chief friends (Prov. 16:28), breaks up churches, destroys peace of mind. It is a direct cause of tears, heartbreak, ill health, and death. But in spite of all this, and with all our philosophy, it is humanly impossible to tame the tongue (James 3:8).
A mother once told her children to divide all people into two classes, friends and strangers. "Friends we love too much to gossip about; strangers we know too little," she said. George Meredith said that a gossip is a beast of prey who does not even wait for the death of the victim he devours. Almost everyone at some time suffers "the scourge of the tongue." But God promises that His children will be hid from it, protected from it. The tongue can be a scourge by flattery as well as by slander. William Cowper quoted Proverbs 29:5, "A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet," and then added: "He that slanders me paints me blacker than I am, and he that flatters me, whiter. They both daub me, and when I look into the glass of conscience I see myself disguised by both." God is our protection from both. Let us flee to Him. And remember: "A lying tongue is but for a moment" (Prov. 12:10).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence...: thou shalt keep them secretly...from the strife of tongues" (Ps. 31:20).
Although "the tongue of the wise is health" (Prov. 12:18) and "a wholesome tongue is a tree of life" (Prov. 15:4), it is certainly true that a slanderous tongue is sharpened like that of a serpent (Ps 140:3). It is spoken of in Psalm 57:4 as a sharp sword. There are many people who hide wickedness under their tongues (Job 20:12).
It is true that the day will come when "every tongue shall confess to God" (Rom. 14:11). But there are those who do not now bridle their tongues (James 1:26), and in such cases "the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity" (James 3:6). It separates chief friends (Prov. 16:28), breaks up churches, destroys peace of mind. It is a direct cause of tears, heartbreak, ill health, and death. But in spite of all this, and with all our philosophy, it is humanly impossible to tame the tongue (James 3:8).
A mother once told her children to divide all people into two classes, friends and strangers. "Friends we love too much to gossip about; strangers we know too little," she said. George Meredith said that a gossip is a beast of prey who does not even wait for the death of the victim he devours. Almost everyone at some time suffers "the scourge of the tongue." But God promises that His children will be hid from it, protected from it. The tongue can be a scourge by flattery as well as by slander. William Cowper quoted Proverbs 29:5, "A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet," and then added: "He that slanders me paints me blacker than I am, and he that flatters me, whiter. They both daub me, and when I look into the glass of conscience I see myself disguised by both." God is our protection from both. Let us flee to Him. And remember: "A lying tongue is but for a moment" (Prov. 12:10).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence...: thou shalt keep them secretly...from the strife of tongues" (Ps. 31:20).
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