Lying Lips and Deceitful Tongues

January 1, 2018- Monday-#577- Daily Morning Bible Reading and Meditation - Psalm 120 KJVw

 ***Deliver my soul, O Lord , from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.*** 

[1] In my distress I cried unto the Lord , and he heard me. 

[2] Deliver my soul, O Lord , from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 

[3] What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? 

[4] Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

Thoughts to ponder for today:

This Psalmist song consist of seven verses,  called by some commentator one of the “Songs Of Degrees”, focus more on his distress and unwanted status in life. However in it’s first verse, conveyed to us His sense of relief from the comfort he had receive from The LORD. His song’s prologue  expresses his gratitude and thanksgiving to The LORD of his salvation. Consequently, it imparts two obvious reasons why he is thankful: 

* The LORD delivered him from lying lips.

* The LORD delivered him from deceitful tongue.

I have read the portion of Matthew Henry’s commentary, stating:

Verses 1-4 Here is, 

I. Deliverance from a false tongue obtained by prayer. David records his own experience of this.

1. He was brought into distress, into great distress, by lying lips and a deceitful tongue. There were those that sought his ruin, and had almost effected it, by lying. (1.) By telling lies to him. They flattered him with professions and protestations of friendships, and promises of kindness and service to him, that they might the more securely and without suspicion carry on their designs against him, and might have an opportunity, by betraying his counsels, to do him a mischief. They smiled in his face and kissed him, even when they were aiming to smite him under the fifth rib. The most dangerous enemies, and those which it is most hard to guard against, are such as carry on their malicious designs under the colour of friendship. The Lord deliver every good man from such lying lips. 

(2.) By telling lies of him. They forged false accusations against him and laid to his charge things that he knew not. This has often been the lot not only of the innocent, but of the excellent ones, of the earth, who have been greatly distressed by lying lips, and have not only had their names blackened and made odious by calumnies in conversation, but their lives, and all that is dear to them in this world, endangered by false-witness-bearing in judgment. David was herein a type of Christ, who was distressed by lying lips and deceitful tongues.

2. In this distress he had recourse to God by faithful and fervent prayer: I cried unto the Lord. Having no fence against false tongues, he appealed to him who has all men’s hearts in his hand, who has power over the consciences of bad men, and can, when he pleases, bridle their tongues. 

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In my own takings from this Psalm, it gives me this thought that it is not only our foes’ lying and deceitful tongue distressful to us. More often than not, it is also the lying tongue of them whom we have love and care for, them whom we have put our trust with, even our very own family and friends, that breaks our hearts in pieces. And not only that, the most distressful issues in life we most of the time struggled with, is our own lying tongues and deceitful lips. The consequence of it gives us restlessness and anxieties, because our conscience would not give us peace. 

It is such a great relief that if in humility and truthfulness of our heart, we learn to humbly bow down our knees to The LORD our GOD, we received forgiveness from our sins.  And indeed, HIS deliverance brings us an overflowing joy that cannot be found in any part of this world. 

May we all learn to be prudent by living in truth and honesty; that if anybody among our foes, friends and family should cast us a lying lips and a deceitful tongue, when it is brought down in prayers to a The LORD, He will take our case and answer us according to the sincerity and honesty of our hearts. 

1 John 1:9 KJV

[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

May The LORD our GOD be glorified as we are to face another year of our lives. 

Have a blessed happy New year to all!

Psalm 120:1-7 KJV

[1] In my distress I cried unto the Lord , and he heard me. [2] Deliver my soul, O Lord , from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. [3] What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? [4] Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. [5] Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! [6] My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. [7] I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.