Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”
The tongue of man is very small in comparison to our legs and arms. According to study, the average tongue only weighs 60-70 grams, or 2.1-2.45 oz. Yet this small member possesses the ability to do much damage. According to James chapter 3:5-6, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” If we continue to read the third chapter of James, we learn that a born again child of grace has the ability to use their tongue in a positive or negative manner. James 3:10 reads, “Out of the SAME mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren these things ought not so to be” (emphasis mine). The reason for this is found in the fact that the born-again child of grace has two natures. The fallen nature inherited from our father Adam, and the pure nature received by God’s grace in regeneration.
With this fact/truth in mind, we are able to begin to understand why the Psalmist penned the words found in our study verse. David’s longing desire was not that his tongue would be used in a manner displeasing to God, but in a way “acceptable” in His sight.
As most of you know, I was not raised in the Primitive Baptist Church. When I was a teenager, I was blessed to visit a Primitive Baptist Church and later ask to be received as a member by baptism. Often people ask me, “Why?” My answer to that question is broad and at times takes up quite a bit of time. Part of the answer was based on the fact that I was convinced what was being said in the pulpits of the previous group that I was among didn’t align with God’s Word. How can words that are not consistent and in accordance to God’s Holy Word be acceptable to God? The answer to that question was part of the force which drove me to the place where I am presently, a Primitive Baptist.
In day to day life on a regular basis, we are engaged in multiple conversations. In those conversations we are able to speak thousands of words in our language. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “How many of those are pleasing to God?” Scripture teaches us that God is always listening. Solomon warns us over and over in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes about choosing wise words. In Ecclesiastes 5:2 we read, “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth: therefore let thy words be few.”
In conclusion, every child of grace should be motivated and convicted to consider the words that flow from their lips. The first and foremost question should be, “Is this pleasing to God?” I will confess, I have failed in this endeavor many times, yet I want to do better. In laboring to do better, we can always depend on God to help us in our times of need, as we learn in James 4:6, “But he giveth more grace.” Amen!