Psalms chapter thirty nine begins with the heading, “[[To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.]]” which breaks down, “to the chief Musician” or “to the overseer, superintendent, director or chief singer of a choir”, “even to Jeduthun” which means “indeed toward Jeduthun whose name means praising and was a Levite of the family of Merari and the chief one of the three choirs of the temple whose descendants also formed one of the perpetual temple choirs”, “A Psalm” or “a melody or poem set to notes” “of David” which means “belonging to David whose name means beloved and was the second king of Israel”, and in chapter thirty nine and verse one of Psalms David said, “I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue” where we read,
I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue:
I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
The verse begins, “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue:” David began with the words, “I said” or “I, David, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “I will take heed to my ways” which means “I, David, shall keep, guard, observe and take charge over my, David's, manner, journey, path and direction”, “that I sin not” or “so I, David, do not miss, go wrong or forfeit from uncleanness” “with my tongue” which means “by the use of my, David's, wedge in the mouth used for speaking”. David declared that he would watch over and observe his manner of living so that he did not speak with the use of his tongue in a sinful way.
The verse continues, “I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” David added the words, “I will keep my mouth” or “I, David, shall guard, take heed and keep watch over my, David's, orifice in the face used for eating and speaking” “with a bridle” which means “by the use of a muzzle”, “while the wicked” or “during the time when people who are criminal, ungodly, guilty of sin and hostile to God and others” “is before me” which means “exists in front and in the presence of me, David”. David shared how he purposed to watch over and keep His mouth closed when ungodly and evil people were in his presence.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how David controlled his manner of living and speech so that he would not violate Jehovah God's law, and he would keep his mouth closed with a muzzle during the time evil people were in his presence. Sometimes the best things a person can do is to keep their mouths closed, especially when people who are ungodly are before them. Jesus said, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast you your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (See Matthew 7:6), and because David was surrounded by unbelievers in Jehovah God, he determined to keep quiet in their presence. God's invitation to have a personal relationship with Him is open to everyone who will humble themselves and yield to His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”. When we surrender to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us when to speak and when not, and may we allow Him to lead us for the appropriate and inappropriate times to speak.
Next time David says, “I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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