LIPS

Psalms 94:4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They ramble. They speak arrogantly. All troublemakers brag about themselves. They pour out arrogant words. All the evildoers boast. Utter - Or pour forth freely, constantly, abundantly, as a fountain doth waters (so this Hebrew word signifies.) Hard things - Insolent, and intolerable words against thee and thy people. They crush Your people, O LORD, And afflict Your heritage.

There will come a day of reckoning for all the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against God, His truths, and ways, and people. It would hardly be believed, if we did not witness it, that millions of rational creatures should live, move, speak, hear, understand, and do what they purpose, yet act as if they believed that God would not punish the abuse of His gifts. As all knowledge is from God, no doubt He knows all the thoughts of the children of men, and knows that the imaginations of the thoughts of men's hearts are only evil, and that continually. Even in good thoughts there is a want of being fixed, which may be called vanity. It concerns us to keep a strict watch over our thoughts, because God takes particular notice of them. Thoughts are words to God.

Psa 75:5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. Lift not - A metaphor from untamed oxen, which will not bow their heads to receive the yoke. Stiff neck - With insolent pride and contempt. The prophet warns the wicked that they would not set themselves against God's people, seeing that God at His time destroys them who rule wickedly. To the proud, daring sinners He says, Boast not of your power, persist not in contempt. All the present hopes and future happiness of the human race spring from the Son of God.

1 Samuel 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. Do not show your pride against God. He knoweth thy heart, and all that pride, and envy, and contempt of Me, which thy own conscience knows; and all thy perverse carriage towards Me. He trieth all mens thoughts and actions, (for the Hebrew word signifies both) as a just judge, to give to every one according to their works The strong are soon weakened, and the weak are soon strengthened, when God pleases. He respects not man's wisdom or fancied excellences, but chooses those whom the world accounts foolish, teaching them to feel their guilt, and to value His free and precious salvation. The subjects of Christ's kingdom will be safe, and the enemies of it will be ruined; for the Anointed, the Lord Christ, is able to save, and to destroy.

Pro 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. Avoid self-praise. We must do that which is commendable, for which even strangers may praise us. Our light must shine before men, and we must do good works that may be seen, though we must not do them on purpose that they may be seen. Let our own works be such as will praise us, even in the gates, Phil. 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. When we have done it we must not commend ourselves, for that is an evidence of pride, folly, and self-love, and a great lessening to a man's reputation. There may be a just occasion for us to vindicate ourselves, but it does not become us to applaud ourselves. Self-praise defiles the mouth.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. So he who does not hate evil, does not fear God. God hates pride and arrogance, evil ways and froward conversation; these render men unwilling to hear His humbling, awakening, holy instructions. His wisdom makes all truly happy who receive it in the love of Christ Jesus. Seek Him early, seek Him earnestly, seek Him before any thing else. Christ never said, Seek in vain. Those who love Christ, are such as have seen His loveliness, and have had His love shed abroad in their hearts; therefore they are happy. They shall be happy in this world.

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG/rECj

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY 2 Corinthians 10:18 For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.