Saturday 24 November 2007
- Bible Book:
- Psalms
"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not turn my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with those who work iniquity..." (v.3-4)
Background
Many of the psalms attributed to David speak about his lifebeing in danger, and the need for the Lord to be a 'rock' or his'refuge' in times of trouble. Today's reading is no exception as hementions 'evildoers' and the 'wicked' who were no doubt threateninghis life.
David was also exposed to non-human foes which were every bit asdangerous as the men seeking to take his life. Although David hasbeen described as Israel's greatest king, like all of us, he wassubject to temptations of the 'flesh', which, when they got thebetter of him, often had disastrous results (see
However, David was aware of his frailties and in today's psalm hecalls on the Lord to 'set a guard over his mouth', a 'watch overthe door of [his] heart' and 'let not my heart be drawn to what isevil'.
As one theologian points out, being tempted is not a sin; itbecomes so when we succumb. David calls on the Lord to deliver himfrom temptation by ensuring that his heart and mind are so focusedon God that he will resist whatever lure comes his way.
We would be mindful of copying the great king's attitude when weare faced with temptations of various kinds.
To Ponder
Why is it that the things that tempt are soalluring?
How can we resist the things of the flesh?