Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:13

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)
Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 13: Provides Conversation

With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. Psalm 119:13

With my lips: language, speech

Have declared: recount something, to score with a mark as a tally or record

All: the whole, any and every

Judgments: after the manner, custom, fashion — rightful due

Of Your mouth: according as after, speech

What do I talk about? Lately we've heard much talk about Hurricanes. How strong will they be? What path will they take? No one really knows until it actually arrives. But our conversations and actions were filled with Hurricane preparedness and "what ifs". 

What do I talk about? No matter the topic, my conversation should reflect what I believe about God. The particular words I choose, my intent, and emotion of how those were are spoken, should reflect God and His mercy and grace. 

But in order for me to have God's Word impact my conversation, I must know God's Word. 

What impacts my conversation? 

A Cheerful Christmas!

I will be glad and rejoice in You I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!
Psalm 9:2

Crowds, complaints, long check out lines,
You better watch out, you better not cry,
The chaos makes our tune all wrong.
Time to change our focus and sing God’s song!

Family, friends, neighbors, kids too 
Complaints, frustrations, expectations
No matter who or what, be unwavering—
Let your speech to God be favoring!

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and Friend
Oh the joy — when we comprehend!
-Rhonda Sawtelle

Proverbs 10:18-21: That simply describes the fool.

Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom. Proverbs 10:18-21

Defamation.

Utter rashly and inconsiderately. 

Good for nothing.

Die prematurely, by neglect of wise moral conduct.

That simply describes the fool.

We all know someone who fits that description: one who spreads defamation speaks rashly without thought. And sadly, this is even more common today, due to Facebook, twitter, Instagram, etc. It's easy to click "like", or share, or retweet, etc. and pass along information—without verifying to see if it is true. We'd rather just assume that what is posted is true, and therefore, just pass it along. But that in actuality is the characteristic of a fool. 

How easy it is to look at others and point out which ones are fools. We spot them by their speech, behavior, and attitudes. We are disgusted by their actions! And yet, too often we too are guilty of uttering rashly and being inconsiderate in our speech. Are actions and attitudes display a good for nothing heart. 

Think before you speak. 

Wise advise. For if you stop and think before you speak, you can filter your thoughts and words though the truth wisdom has to offer. 

Think before you like, share, retweet. For if you stop and think before passing along information, you can verify whether it is true. 

A heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), will provide the filter necessary to analyze thoughts, speech, and conduct. The fear of God, the beginning of wisdom, will prevent one from being a fool!

Proverbs 6:12-15: A Good-for-Nothing

A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth;

He winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers;

Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord.

Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. Proverbs 6:12-16

Worthless: good-for-nothing, naughty, without profit

Wicked: workers of trouble, evil-doers, workers of iniquity

Walks: ways (counsels, statutes)

Perverse: fraudulent

Mouth: speech with bad qualities ascribed to it

The characteristics of a good-for-nothing person are displayed in his actions and his speech for it all flows out of a heart that is evil. His body language even shows his wickedness and good-for-nothing attitude and heart. 

A good-for-nothing. Continues to practice evil and spread strife and contention to all around him. 

A good-for-nothing. That's not what I want to be known for! And in order to keep from becoming a good-for-nothing person, I must have a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For if the fear of God is in one's heart, than perverse things cannot take root. 

A good-for-nothing. If I don't what that characteristic, then I must listen to God and get His wisdom and apply it to my life! 

Proverbs 2:12: Deliver

To deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, Proverbs 2:12

Deliver: rescue, recover, take away

Way of: course of life, moral action and character bad

Evil: unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery, displeasing

Speaks: says, boasts, speak one with another

Perverse things: a perversity or fraud, fraudulent

Proverbs 2:12 is a continuation of what Wisdom will do—Deliver, rescue, take away. 

From what will Wisdom recuse me? 

1. A course of life that includes unpleasantness and misery, and most importantly—displeasing to God. 

2. The man who speaks fraudulently. 

Most of us can agree that #1 is important. We do need direction and wisdom to stay moral and true. But what is wrong with hearing fraudulent or perverse speech? 

Ever hear the old saying, "What goes in, comes out?" What we allow to enter our minds, will change the course of our thoughts. And our thoughts will rule our hearts and actions. 

There is also a danger to hearing fraudulent speech, for the more we listen to it, the less sensitized we become. I remember the TV shows I watched back in the early 1970's. They were "good clean shows". Meaning that was no sex, no profanity, no gruesome realistic murder scenes. Yet, over the years, all of those things have been added. Making them passé. We've become desensitized to the horrors of sin. 

I now have a TV in my bedroom. I'm not much of a TV watcher. And I did not want the blank screen tempting me to watch, just for the sake of watching. So, I wanted to cover the screen. As I thought about WHY I didn't like watching TV, my answer was simple—I did not like the sin portrayed on most of the shows. 

So, to help me evaluate what I would watch, I printed a verse and taped it on the TV. 

[Finally; In conclusion; or Now then] Brothers and sisters, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] things that are true and honorable and ·right [just] and pure and ·beautiful [lovely] and ·respected [commendable]. If there is anything that is ·good [morally excellent] and worthy of praise, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] these things. Philippians 4:8 (EXB)

If my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), then Wisdom will deliver, direct me away from a life of sinful morality and fraudulent speech. And if I really respect and fear God, I'll not enjoy the sinful and perverse speech. 

Deliver. Wisdom is ready to do just that. But am I willing to "be delivered"? Or will I choose to stay in the company of those whose character and speech is perverse and ungodly? 

Speech that Reflects God Almighty

If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing

Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all.

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

This post is the continuation of my Study of Colossians.    

Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you]. Colossians 4:6 (AMP)

Let your speech: Your conversation.

Be alway with grace: It should be such as religion is fitted to produce; such as to show that the grace of God is in our hearts. It means that our conversation should be such as to show that we are governed by the principles of religion, and that there is unfeigned piety in the heart. So as to show that the soul is under the influence of love to the Redeemer.

Seasoned with salt: That our conversation should be seasoned with piety or grace in a way similar to that in which we employ salt in our food. It makes it wholesome and palatable. 

That ye may know how ye ought to answer every man: Be imbued with the spirit of piety, that you may not utter any thing that would be rash and foolish, but be prepared to answer anyone who may question you about your religion in a way that will show that you understand its nature, and that will tend to edification. If he addresses you in a haughty, insolent, and overbearing manner, you will be able to repress the risings of your temper, and to answer him with gentleness and kindness.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Speech. Conversation. And yes, this includes Facebook, Twitter, texting, emails, and other forms of communication. 

When we communicate it should be through the filter of God's grace. Each word we speak (write), should be such that it reflects God Almighty. 

That does not mean that we can't talk about Sports, or the weather, or other topics. Rather when we are speaking about ANY and ALL topics, our conversation is one that will still honor God. We must make sure that we are speaking THE truth—not embellishing, or gossiping, or slandering .... the list can continue. 

Speech that reflects God Almighty. When certain people are present, our speech is altered. For example, most people won't swear in the presence of a Clergyman or Priest. If we wouldn't say something in the presence of a human, then why would be think it ok to say it at all? For God Almighty is ALWAYS present! 

Is my speech reflecting my relationship with God Almighty? Are the things I'm "liking" and reposting on Facebook and Twitter reflecting God's grace? Am I speaking the truth? Am I gossiping? 

Only when my heart is permeated with a deep sense of God's reverence (Acts 9:31 MSG), will my speech reflect God Almighty. 

God Approved

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 19. Here is what I learned.

·I hope my ·words [The words of my mouth] and ·thoughts [meditations of my heart] ·please [be before] you. Lord, you are my Rock, ·the one who saves me [and my redeemer]. Psalm 19:14 (EXB)

May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart meet with Your gracious approval, O Eternal, my Rock, O Eternal, my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (VOICE)

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer." A sweet prayer, and so spiritual that it is almost as commonly used in Christian worship as the apostolic benediction.

Words of the mouth are mockery if the heart does not meditate; the shell is nothing without the kernel; but both together are useless unless accepted; and even if accepted by man, it is all vanity if not acceptable in the sight of God.

We must in prayer view Jehovah as our strength enabling, and our Redeemer saving, or we shall not pray aright, and it is well to feel our personal interest so as to use the word my, or our prayers will be hindered. Blessed Kinsman, give us now to meditate acceptably upon thy most sweet love and tenderness. The Treasury of David

Today as I was thinking over this verse, I had a good example of how my thoughts don’t always reflect God and His Word. 

I heard one of my neighbor’s kids crying and screaming in the hallway and stairwell. That happens often, when they are told “no”. I immediately thought.. again! But then I heard the ambulance pull up with the fire truck and police cars. I then learned that one of the kids had fallen out of the second story window. 

I had to stop and realize that my original thoughts were not only based on a wrong assumption, but they were not godly either. I should have compassion and understanding. I should show love and kindness to my neighbors... no matter how loud their kids are. I talked with my neighbor tonight and the little boy is ok; just a bump on the head and sore. 

My thoughts and words need to  pass through God’s sieve, so to speak. My thoughts and words are to be acceptable to God. My attitude, actions, and what I articulate, need to be God approved! 

To create a positive day, I must meditate on God’s Word so that my thoughts and words will be God approved. 

Nonsense

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The twenty-first of each month, I'm studying Psalm 28. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Draw me not away with the wicked, And with the workers of iniquity; That speak peace with their neighbors, But mischief is in their hearts. Psalm 28:3 (ASV)

Non·sense (noun)

1 a : words or language having no meaning or conveying no intelligible ideas; b (1) : language, conduct, or an idea that is absurd or contrary to good sense (2) : an instance of absurd action

2 a : things of no importance or value : trifles; b : affected or impudent conduct  http://www.merriam-webster.com

Sometime words seem like nonsense, they are gibberish, convey no intelligible ideas. And other times, we hear words that sound sweet and pleasant, and are just “fluff”. There is nothing behind the words, they are just words. 

Psalm 28:3 mentions those that speak peace, good things, but actually mean harm. As I thought about that, I had to evaluate my own speech. Do I speak nonsense just to be heard? Do I say one thing but mean another? Do I say I’ll do something, but have no intention of actually doing what I agreed to do? 

I thought about the phrase heard often in Christian communication, “I’ll pray for you.” That’s so easy to say, but often it’s said with good intentions, but we never follow through.  Saying “I’ll pray for you” and not praying is exactly like the wicked’s empty speech. We might was well be speaking nonsense, for our words have no meaning, they are just words. 

How do I know if my speech is nonsense or truth? The easiest way to make sure my speech is backed up with actions. If I say I’ll do something, I do it. The old adage is true, “actions speak louder than words”. One way to measure the value of one’s speech, is to evaluate their actions.  

So, will be speech be nonsense, of no value? Or will my words be truth, backed up by actions? 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure my speech is not nonsense, but that I’m speaking truth, backed up with actions. 

What is my norm for today?

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The nineteenth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 15. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Only those who ·are innocent [walk innocently] and who do ·what is right [righteousness]. Such people speak the truth from their hearts. Psalm 15:2 (EXB)

Those who obey God in everything and always do what is right, whose words are true and sincere. Psalm 15:2 (GNT)

The word "walk" in the Scriptures is often used to denote the manner of life; life being represented as a journey. 

The word here rendered "uprightly," or, in the Hebrew, "perfectly," means that which is complete in all its parts; where no part is missing or is defective.

And worketh righteousness - Does right. That is, he does what is proper to be done in relation to God and to man.

And speaketh the truth in his heart - He uses language that is sincere, and that is in accordance with his real belief. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

There is a progression here. First, walk. One’s manner of life, habits be that of obeying God. Secondly, because one has the habit of obeying God, his/her actions are right. And lastly, because of the habit of obeying God, and doing what is right, his/her speech is true as well. 

Habits. Routine. The norm.  I’m a very habitual person. I guess I never realized how I stick to habits, until I noticed Max, my parakeet following my routines. Max has been with me 10 years. And he is knows the daily routine. For example, at night I first shut off the computer, the TV or radio, followed by the printer, then the lights. Max moves to a particular perch as soon as I turn off the TV/radio. Then when I shut off the printer,he expects me to ‘pick him up’. If I go back to the bedroom without him—I hear about it! If after a few minutes I don’t return to the living room to get him, Max flies to the bedroom. And if I’m late at starting the bedtime routine, Max will often put himself to bed! Max knows the norm and acts accordingly. 

Psalm 15:2 is about living a life that is habitual in obeying God. Not habitual in the time or way I obey God, rather that obeying God is a constant and affects my actions, speech, and how I think about things. Obeying God is the norm.  

Lately I’ve noticed on Twitter how someone will post a PG-13 or R rated cartoon, or a rant full of swear words, then the next post will be a Bible verse, or a statement of their belief in God. Those are contradictory. 

Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My ·brothers and sisters [fellow believers], this should not happen. James 3:10 (EXB)

Whether is be my twitter posts, blog posts, Facebook posts, my daily actions, speech... everything I do and say reflects my heart. If my heart is ‘in tune’ with God, then I’ll act and speak accordingly. However, if I ignore God and His Word, and make the choice to disobey Him, my actions and speech will reflect that as well. 

The more I learn about God, the more impact I allow God to have in my life, the more I make obeying God the norm, my actions, attitude, and speech will honor God. 

Each day I, several times a day, I need to ask myself this question: “What is my norm for today?” To create a positive day, I must continue to create the habit of loving and obeying God, so that my life will honor God.