"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works of men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties." Psalm 141:3,4
There was so much that I noticed in today's quiet time, it would take much too long to go through it, so instead we will look at just a few things in the two verses of David's prayer quoted above.
1. He uses the imperative case. Set! Incline not!
The imperative is giving an order. God tells us, commands us even to come BOLDLY before His throne of grace and humbly claim His promises. David is not relying on his own goodness, but trusting in God's mercy for his boldness here. He needs God to guard his lips and guide his heart so much, he won't leave it to a mere request.
2. There are two danger "hot zones" as it were that we need to beg GOD and boldly claim His help and guidance in - our mouths and our hearts! Before something is stolen, lusted after, adored more than the LORD, murdered for, etc. it is coveted in the heart! David knows he needs God's guidance and help to keep his heart from inclining to evil. It begins in the heart.
The other troublemaker?? That stupid big ole mouth of ours! Remember that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. And nothing, and I do mean, NOTHING, causes more trouble than our stupid tongues! David knew that these were the two things in himself that if GOD were watching over and guiding - he would live a righteous life.
Another quick note about David. You know who best to help you see a big pitfall? A person who's already fallen in and learned his lesson. David was a liar, cheater, adulterer, and murderer. He was also a repentant soul. His prayer shows us how to avoid the great pitfalls that marred his spiritual life.
I hope I'm smart enough to heed his warning.
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