“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.”
Psalm 34:13
Telling the story of how God captured our hearts, led us to faith and repentance, and transformed our lives is often called sharing our testimony. Testimonies are powerful opportunities for believers to declare their confidence in the Lord, not only in what He has done in redeeming them, but in what He will continue to do for them as they walk in obedience, and how God longs to do this for others. These shared stories allow the church family to praise God together for His saving work in the lives of the people. They are a declaration of what God has done and an invitation to join in praising Him.
David begins Psalm 34 by declaring his story of confidence in the Lord. He tells a story of continual praise and invites his listeners to join him in magnifying the Lord. Throughout the first 11 verses, David intersperses a call to join the praise with details from his testimony.
David invites the humble to “magnify” and “exalt” the Lord (v3) because those who “look to him are radiant and unashamed” (v5). He implores the hearer to “taste and see the Lord is good” (8), to fear the Lord (9) and listen to him (11). He speaks of himself as a poor man who cried out to God, and the Lord heard. The Lord saved him from his troubles. His story is an invitation to believe that if God could hear, answer, deliver, save, and redeem him, then He can do this for the reader. He invites the people to come, listen, and fear the Lord (11).
Wisdom
The rest of the Psalm is filled with wisdom for the righteous. The man who wants to see good (12) must do good (14). The details of how this goodness plays out in the lives of the redeemed are sandwiched in between those statements, the redeemed should keep their tongues from evil (13). This command is so important that he rephrases it in the last part of the sentence, “keep your lips from speaking deceit.” The list continues. Turn from evil, do good, seek peace, pursue peace (14).
Troubles
David acknowledges that the righteous will face troubles. The righteous will cry, be brokenhearted, crushed, and afflicted (12-19). But our souls can boast in the Lord because God delivers us. He slays the wicked and condemns those who hate the righteous (21). None who take refuge in God will be condemned (22).
Ponder
If the redeemed should keep their tongues from evil (13), should redeemed authors keep their pens from evil? Should we keep our words from communicating deceit? How do we turn from evil, do good, seek peace, and pursue peace (14) while telling stories of brokenness and redemption?
Pray
Lord, we hear the wisdom of this passage. As Your children, the words we write and speak should be truthful, good, and peaceful. As we craft the necessary scenes to illustrate the fallen state of characters, we ask for the Spirit’s help to show the awfulness of life apart from You. We ask for the Spirit’s help to create character arcs that illustrate the saving power of Christ. Give us the courage to write boldly and the wisdom to differentiate between necessary details and sensationalism.
“For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.”
Psalm 5:9
In the previous devotional in this series, the tongue was a pen. This month, it is a tool for sinful flattery wielded by boastful evildoers. Words are versatile. As writers, we know that; our careers depend on it. Because words can be used for good and evil, we must type them carefully and thoughtfully.
In Psalm 5, the writer chooses powerful words to describe evildoers. They are liars with a desire for destruction (6, 9). Words like “destroy,” “abhor,” and “hate” communicate God’s feelings toward those who speak evil (5-6). The antagonist is bloodthirsty. His throat is an open grave (6, 9). The vivid imagery of God’s Word builds a complete picture. Those who speak lies and flattery are guilty and deserve to be cast out (6, 9, 10).
Use Your Words for Good, not Evil
In contrast, the protagonist calls upon God to let those who take refuge in Him rejoice and sing for joy (11). These words of praise come from the righteous, who are protected, blessed, and coveredwith favor (11-12). The protagonist knows his propensity to use words for evil, so he proactively asks the Lord to hear his prayer (1-2). He prepares a sacrifice (3). He petitions the Lord to lead him and make his way straight (8). He knows what is easy for us to forget—we enter God’s house and bow in fear of Him through the abundance of His steadfast love (7).
In the New Testament, Paul quotes this passage in Romans 3:13 when he argues that all people are under the power of sin.1 At our core, we are liars with a desire for destruction. Apart from God, we would use our words for evil. Apart from God, we’d write and speak for our glory and fame instead of His. In Romans 3, Paul lays the groundwork for the rest of his argument; the only way we can be grouped in with the righteous instead of the evildoers is through repentance and dependence upon the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus invites us into God’s house, where we bow in fear of Him through the abundance of His steadfast love.
God is the Subject
The writer of Psalm 5 is referenced 13 times in the chapter, evildoers 16 times, the righteous 6 times, and the words or sounds that people utter 10 times. But God, our King and Lord, is referenced 30 times. So this chapter might communicate much about our words, but it says even more about our God.
Questions to Ponder
God hears, loves, protects, blesses, and covers His people. He is righteous. He hates evil, destroys liars, abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men. He does not delight in wickedness and will not allow evil to dwell with Him. He will cast out the guilty and rebellious. Does your writing represent this full picture of God? Does it illuminate His loving nature as much as His intolerance of sin? Does it celebrate His mercy while communicating His judgment?
Does your writing reflect an author that longs for the blessing of this holy God, all the while knowing it is undeserved (v12)? When you examine your word choices, are you like the psalmist, preparing a sacrifice and watching for God (v3)? Do you enter His presence bowed low in fear of Him (v7)? Do you ask for God to lead you and make your way straight (v8)? Or, are you more like the enemy? Are you full of lies and destruction with words like an open grave (v9), rebelling against God (v10)?
Meditate on Psalm 5. Ask God to reveal your heart. Ask God to ignite a fresh passion for writing that exposes the folly of the path toward destruction and judgment. In all your communications, thread themes of hope and redemption that lead to the Lord. The only way we can be made right with God is through the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus. Resolve today to represent this truth well.
1 Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 946). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
When people tell me they’re afraid to fly, I can easily diagnosis their fear and its cause. As most of them will admit, they dislike and fear flying because they have a hard time trusting the pilot. They’d rather be in a car that they’re driving.
They want to be in control.
But I’ve never minded flying. At least, the part of actually being on the plane, taking off, flying to a destination, and so on. I can easily identify that being afraid because I’m not the one flying the plane would be irrational. After all, I could die just as easily if I were in a car I was driving myself. (In fact, I’d be statistically much more likely to die in a car!)
Have you noticed how easier it is to address and excuse the fears of others’ than your own? In typical fashion for us human beings, I’m much slower to recognize and diagnosis my own fear.
Whenever I do fly through airports, I spend that entire day filled with anxiety. No, I’m not afraid of flying, but air travel is still extremely stressful for me.
First, there’s the worry about packing everything I need and not forgetting anything. Then, there’s the concern about arriving at the airport early enough to check-in and get through security.
Next, fear plagues me as I wait in the TSA line—will I be picked for a random, invasive, and humiliating search? Will they reject my carry-on because of some prohibited item I didn’t realize I’d packed? Will security take too long, and I’ll miss my flight?
Once through security, I need to find my gate. Will I have time to reach it before boarding? Time to use the restroom first or grab food?
The list of my potential worries related to air travel goes on and on.
And, yet, I’m fine on the plane. I don’t fear the flight itself. I’ve examined this odd dichotomy that I seem to have, trying to figure it out.
I think that rising into the sky itself, up above clouds and reaching unearthly, unexplored territory in a floating contraption that somehow rides on air I can’t see makes me acutely aware of how out of control I am.
More than that, I’m up near the heavens in an airplane. It feels like I’m undeniably in God’s territory. How could I not, then, realize my own finite and limited abilities and rest in His control over my airborne fate?
But clearly, I’m forgetting something when I give in to anxiety when I’m still on the ground, navigating the logistics of successful air travel.
I’m forgetting that everywhere is God’s territory.
Rising Danger
This is a lesson Bristol Bachmann, the heroine of my new suspense novel Rising Danger, has to learn, too. As a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, Bristol has tasted the danger of things she can’t control. Her response is to try to control everything in her life.
As a bomb technician and handler of an explosives detection K-9, Bristol faces danger every day. But it’s a risk she believes she can control because she knows how to find and disarm a bomb. She’s in her element with bombs—that’s her territory, the part of her life she can control.
But the reality she encounters in the story is one we all encounter in our lives, sooner or later, if not every day.
We are not in control of anything that happens in our lives. Even in our comfort of driving a car versus flying on a plane, we’re kidding ourselves. We’re no more in control of our own car than we are the hundreds or thousands of other vehicles we’ll encounter as we drive—all of which could cause an accident that could lead to our injury or death.
But the surprising twist to this reality is that, rather than having more fear if we accept that we’re not in control, the key to fearlessness is embracing this truth.
It’s good—no, wonderful—news that I’m not in control. Because the One Who is in control of everything is God Himself. He’s omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and perfect. And He is good, all the time, in every way.
We cannot travel out of His territory or get too far away for Him to be in control, even if we pierce the heavens in a soaring airplane.
Whether land, sea, sky or the far reaches of outer space—whether in good times or horrific tragedy—we can be fearless as our illusion of control shatters around us.
Relinquishing that fabricated comfort frees us to live with indestructible peace. Because only then can we rest in the glorious reality that we are in the hands of our loving Father and almighty God Who is in control and will do all things for the good of those Who love Him.
First, it is my favourite genre to read and write: inspirational romantic suspense.
Second, the danger of explosives destroying the dams threatened to unleash one of my favourite conflicts – man-against-nature (in this case – water). I adore water-related plots! (No, I don’t know why, lol.)
Third, there is plenty of man-against-man conflict and man-against-self to keep you flipping the pages long into the night. Every time I’d planned to stop reading at the end of the chapter, the hook had me turning the page. (I blame Jerusha for the dark circles under my eyes!).
Not only does Rising Danger deliver on genre expectations, but it also contains a beautiful spiritual thread to the story. It’s refreshing to find a fictional author who shares my desire to “do all things for the glory of God” and “show nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” That ranks Rising Danger as top shelf in my books.
Contest announcement!
When are you most aware you’re not in control? Do you battle anxiety or other forms of fear when things are out of your control? Please share (and see contest rules below).
*Contest open to USA residents only.
Commenters located in the USA will be entered into a draw for a signed copy of Rising Danger. The winner will be chosen by random draw on August 5th and notified via the email address connected to your comment. You must note your country of residence in your comment and answer the question to be entered.
About Jerusha
Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ.
With a B.A. in English and a background in screenwriting, Jerusha is a speaker, writing instructor, and Fear Warrior who sounds the call to battle against fear in our everyday lives.
Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats. You’ll often find her sharing irresistibly adorable photos of them in her newsletter and on social media.
Get a free suspense story from Jerusha and find more of her thrilling, fear-fighting novels at www.JerushaAgen.com.
“My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.”
Psalm 45:1
Context: A love song written for a royal wedding and addresses a king.1
A Pleasing theme
In Psalm 45:1, the author is overwhelmed with a “pleasing theme.” These beautiful words stir his heart (NLT). The Contemporary English Version says it like this: My thoughts are filled with beautiful words for the king, and I will use my voice as a writer would use pen and ink.
Imagine your tongue as your pen and ink.
A computer feature that I have come to appreciate is the voice-to-text shortcut. It is very easy for me to click a few buttons, speak, and see the words magically appear on the screen. I love this. My tongue is my pen. Consider the implications for writers if we carry this metaphor through Scripture.
Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”
Proverbs 21:23, “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”
Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
James 1:26, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
Scripture has a lot to say about the words we speak, and the implications apply to the words we write as authors. This new blog series is an opportunity to journey together and consider what God has to say about the words stirring in our hearts and spilling out of our mouths or onto the page.
Pray
Pray through the verses above, asking the Lord to set a guard over your words to keep you from trouble. Resolve to write and speak no “corrupting words.” Resolve to “build up your readers” and “build up the people around you.” Consider the solemn warning for Christians who do not “bridle their words.” Ask the Lord to expose your heart, so you do not deceive yourself.
Footnotes:
Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 992). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
