There are two readings for today.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 141
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies. [Psalm 141:3-4]
Yesterday we reflected on the poison of vipers, the words and actions that flow from wicked hearts and wound and kill many.
In today’s Psalm David prays that God would keep him from following the same path.
He doesn’t want to be like that, he doesn’t want his words to damage others.
Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. [Psalm 141:3]

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” [Matthew 12:36-37]
These words from Jesus follow right after His calling the religious leaders the brood of vipers [Matthew 12:34-35], the passage we also looked at yesterday.
But then Jesus goes on the warn us that our words, which are the overflow of the heart, will be judged.
In other words, like David we must take our words (which reflect our hearts) very seriously – for God does.
Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. [Psalm 141:3]

Have you ever hurt someone with your words?
Demeaned them, belittled them, mocked them, scorned them?
As a parent, have you ever said something that wounded the spirit of your child(ren)?
Who hasn’t, I know I have, it feels awful afterward.
I don’t want to be like that, I don’t want my words to pressure or demean others.
Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. [Psalm 141:3]

Think about when you are gathered with a group of people, sharing ‘opinions’ about another person (or maybe the government, or the employer, etc.).
Do you join in, do you use your words to belittle or demean?
How often do our group conversations become destructive, talking down others…
This makes us no different from the wicked, from thoughtless sinners who spew empty words about others all the time.
Jesus reminds us that every word is heard, and will be dealt with by God.
Yikes, set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. [Psalm 141:3]

PRAYER:
Lord, I can’t pray it any better than David, so I will repeat his words again: Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. [Psalm 141:3]