"They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us." — Psalm 12:2-4
Among the things which reflect the image of God in man, and distinguish man from all the lower creatures in the world, the power of speech is certainly one of the most significant. While other creatures can communicate to a greater or lesser degree, only man can translate his thoughts into words and use those words in such a diverse and powerful way. And as with all of man's distinguishing characteristics, this power has been corrupted by sin.
It is the apostle James who underscores the conflicting character of the tongue, when he writes, "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so [Jas. 3:9-10]." While the psalmist's emphasis is somewhat different, the two are dealing in principle with the same thing: the corrupt use of the the tongue and the powers of speech.
The tongue of the ungodly is, in our text, charged with three perverse attitudes. First, insincerity or hypocrisy: "With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak." Second, a malicious ingenuity: "With our tongues we shall prevail;" that is, the use of the tongue to "get ahead" in the world, if need be at the expense of others. Third, independence; "our lips are our own: who is lord over us?" As our culture moves further and further from biblical values, becoming more and more agnostic or atheistic, it is not surprising that truth and integrity of speech are increasingly subordinated to personal advantage and gain.
Confronting this attitude is the assurance that there is a Lord over us and that we will be ultimately accountable to Him. "The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things." The Son of God, addressing the Pharisees in His day, confirmed David's affirmation, in what is a very telling passage: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [Matt. 12:34-37, italics mine]."
It is of no small significance that each of these passages links the communication of the lips with the condition of the heart. Our speech is a kind of "heart monitor," revealing our inner condition: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," Jesus says. It is not surprising that the lips of the unconverted should "speak vanity," for they are the victims of hearts that are "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked," but when the tongue of the righteous is used to advance selfish ends, and/or to destroy the character and reputation of others, a grievous sin is committed which ultimately will bring reproach on the name of Christ, and we stand in need of having our hearts purified. James put it this way: "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. Be afflicted,รง and mourn, and weep… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, Who is able to save and destroy: who art thou that judgest another [Jas. 4:8-12]?"
If we are believers, our lips and our tongues are not our own! For, "… your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God, and ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body[I Cor 6:19-20]." "Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another [Eph. 4:25]."
For God's glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
Among the things which reflect the image of God in man, and distinguish man from all the lower creatures in the world, the power of speech is certainly one of the most significant. While other creatures can communicate to a greater or lesser degree, only man can translate his thoughts into words and use those words in such a diverse and powerful way. And as with all of man's distinguishing characteristics, this power has been corrupted by sin.
It is the apostle James who underscores the conflicting character of the tongue, when he writes, "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so [Jas. 3:9-10]." While the psalmist's emphasis is somewhat different, the two are dealing in principle with the same thing: the corrupt use of the the tongue and the powers of speech.
The tongue of the ungodly is, in our text, charged with three perverse attitudes. First, insincerity or hypocrisy: "With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak." Second, a malicious ingenuity: "With our tongues we shall prevail;" that is, the use of the tongue to "get ahead" in the world, if need be at the expense of others. Third, independence; "our lips are our own: who is lord over us?" As our culture moves further and further from biblical values, becoming more and more agnostic or atheistic, it is not surprising that truth and integrity of speech are increasingly subordinated to personal advantage and gain.
Confronting this attitude is the assurance that there is a Lord over us and that we will be ultimately accountable to Him. "The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things." The Son of God, addressing the Pharisees in His day, confirmed David's affirmation, in what is a very telling passage: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [Matt. 12:34-37, italics mine]."
It is of no small significance that each of these passages links the communication of the lips with the condition of the heart. Our speech is a kind of "heart monitor," revealing our inner condition: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," Jesus says. It is not surprising that the lips of the unconverted should "speak vanity," for they are the victims of hearts that are "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked," but when the tongue of the righteous is used to advance selfish ends, and/or to destroy the character and reputation of others, a grievous sin is committed which ultimately will bring reproach on the name of Christ, and we stand in need of having our hearts purified. James put it this way: "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. Be afflicted,รง and mourn, and weep… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, Who is able to save and destroy: who art thou that judgest another [Jas. 4:8-12]?"
If we are believers, our lips and our tongues are not our own! For, "… your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God, and ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body[I Cor 6:19-20]." "Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another [Eph. 4:25]."
For God's glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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