The poet/warrior/shepherd/ and great King of Israel - David - the son of Jesse - is called a man after God's own heart. He was a man who could hear God speak. In the 19th Psalm, David tells us how God speaks (not in an audible voice - but much louder than that!)
This Psalm tells us that God speaks through Creation, through His Word, and through us.
See how He speaks through His creation in verses 1-6.
'The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech,and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words,whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth,and their words to the end of the world.In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens,and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. "
Consider also, how He speaks through His word in verses 7-11
"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;the testimony of the Lord is sure,making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure,enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean,enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true,and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."
Then He tells how He speaks through us, His people in verses 12-14
"Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
No one can silence, or pervert how God speaks through His awesome creation. It is what it is! Some may argue or dispute over the interpretation of certain passages of His inspired Word, but that does not negate the fact that it has stood the test of time, and speaks clearly in His message of holiness, sin, redemption, love and grace.
The big question is, "Does He speak through us"?
David prays that the meditations of his heart and the words of his mouth might be acceptable in God's sight.
Wow!
How many times do our words bring honor to God, and how often do we dishonor Him through our speech? There is power in the tongue. Power to speak life, and power to communicate evil. Yet David hits on something that is most important here. The words of our mouths are important, but in reality they are only the communication of the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Those things upon which we meditate are the things that dictate what we speak.
Do you ever dwell on thoughts that you know are contrary to what is acceptable to the Father? I am ashamed to admit that there have been times that I have. Invariably, such thoughts will go directly to the tongue! How tragic to think that we might bring reproach on the Father, through corrupt communication.
God speaks so clearly and powerfully through creation and through His word. Let us join David in a prayer that He will also speak distinctly through us. He will, but we must be sure that the meditations of our thoughts and the words of our mouth will be acceptable in His sight. After all, He IS our rock and our redeemer!
Thanks C.J. We were talking about this very subject this morning. I needed to hear this reinforcement. It is so easy to dwell on things that are not pleasing to the Lord and forget that He "hears" everything we think. And too often those private thoughts we dwell on find their way to our tongue. Once it's out there... there is no taking it back! So we really DO need to be sure it is pleasing to the Lord, especially when we bear His name.
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