Psalm 140: Thoughts, Speech, Action

Today’s reading is Psalm 140.

The Progression of Evil, But Also Righteousness

Once again, King David faces wicked, violent men who falsely accuse him and seek to bring his downfall. Recognize, when seeking the downfall of a king, folks were usually seeking the death of the king. But this is the same king, to whom God had promised in Psalm 2, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (ESV). Therefore, while facing these plotting rebels, David asks. He is certain God will respond. Of course, He will. He promised.

In this setting though, David demonstrates the progression of wicked rebellion.

Step #1: Think
Step #2: Speak
Step #3: Act

Step #1: Think–In Psalm 140:2, the violent men plan evil things in their hearts. They think about them. They come up with ways to accomplish them long before they act on them. They fantasize about them. They ruminate on them. They meditate on evil.

Step #2: Speak–In Psalm 140:3, they make their tongues sharp as a serpent’s and have the venom of asps under their tongues. They start talking their wickedness. They find others to talk about it with. They repeat it to themselves.

Step #3: Act–Finally, in Psalm 140:5, these arrogant wicked men hid their trap and lay their snare. They take action in wickedness.

Certainly, we will be concerned about the wicked around us who walk this same path. However, more importantly, we should be on guard lest we walk this same path. More than simply avoiding this path, we need to flip it around and use the principles in a God-honoring direction.

Step #1: Think–Meditate on what is good and excellent and right. Focus on godly and God-glorifying truths. Set our minds on things above. When Satan’s temptations try to turn our thinking to Satan’s things, let us learn to take those thoughts captive with God’s responding truths.

Step #2: Speak–Talk about God’s things. Have spiritual conversations. Whether self-talk or conversations with others, let God’s Word be the guide for speech. Talk about plans to do righteous and holy things. Talk about God. Talk about Jesus. Talk about things that are right. Not that all our conversations have to be specifically about spiritual things. Certainly, we can talk about business, recreation, relationships. Certainly, we can joke and jest. But make sure that the speech aligns with God and godly principles and truths.

Step #3: Act–Do the right thing. Having meditated on what is right and talked about what is right, do it.

Certainly, this will be a growth process for us. However, the more we take our thoughts captive, the more we learn to bridle our tongues, the more we will walk in God’s everlasting way.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 140.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 140 prompt or improve your praise of God?

Hear and Heed

Today’s reading is Matthew 7.

Jesus wraps up this sermon with a powerful warning. Judgment is coming. In fact, it is judgment just like the one that came in Noah’s day. That is, the rains will fall and the floods will come. No, Jesus isn’t saying another flood is literally coming, but another judgment is literally coming. He uses the imagery from that previous judgment to provide the warning.

What is the difference between those who will survive the judgment and those who won’t? Those who survive the judgment will not only hear the words of Jesus, they will do them. Those who do not survive will hear the words of Jesus, but won’t do them.

Think about that. Those who don’t survive the judgment are people who “go to church.” They are people who attend the Bible classes. They are people who read their Bibles. They are people who listen to the sermons. But that is all. They listen, but they don’t do. They hear, but they don’t heed.

This is the part of the sermon that has convicted me the most. Last year, we had a Bible class on the sermon. This ending plagued me the whole time because I knew it was coming. It kept me asking, “If I really lived this Sermon, what would my life look like?” I realized there were plenty of portions of the sermon I had relaxed. I realized I could talk about the sermon, discuss the sermon, write about the sermon, preach on the sermon, teach the sermon, but for all of that, I could still ignore the sermon. That is not good enough. This sermon is not to be read. It is not to be heard. It is to be practiced. It is to be lived.

As we wrap up our look at it, may we keep it in memory and may we ask, “If I decided to really live this sermon, what would be different in my life?”

Next week’s reading is Matthew 8.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. How do we build our lives on the rock? How do we build our lives on Jesus?
3. Why is it tempting to build our lives on sand?
4. What do you think it means when Matthew goes on to record that the people were astonished because Jesus taught as one having authority?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?