Slices
Prepare
Thank God that his Word is truth, and that you hold it in your hands or view it on a screen today. Pray: ‘Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your word today.’
Bible passage
For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.
1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful any more;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbour;
they flatter with their lips
but harbour deception in their hearts.
3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue –
4 those who say,
‘By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us – who is lord over us?’
5 ‘Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,’ says the Lord.
‘I will protect them from those who malign them.’
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold refined seven times.
7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us for ever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honoured by the human race.
Explore
Vile things’ are honoured by the human race (v 8). When we become used to this, such that we tolerate it without comment, we show that our inner selves have been damaged. The source of the damage is words. Lies, flattering, deception (v 2), boasting (v 3), bullying (v 4) or malign slandering (v 5): words matter, to the extent that what is written and spoken can shape, reshape and even overthrow an entire culture. James insists that human beings cannot tame the human tongue (James 3:8). It is like a spark which sets off a wild fire.
Scripture is different. These 66 books, full of words, tutor us towards the flawless, precious purity of God’s voice (v 6). He speaks truth (John 17:17), which has an effect, pushing back the corruption of language which rots and destroys the human spirit. Truth is important, because it bursts the bubble of the arrogant who ‘freely strut about’ (v 8). It slows and then halts the progress of falsehood in its tracks, offering the world both safety and protection (v 7).
Respond
Give thanks for the work of Scripture Union and the Bible societies which make God’s Word available and understandable to millions of people throughout the world. Pray for truth to be honoured in all cultures.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ezekiel 20,21; 1 Peter 2
Pray for Scripture Union
SU in English-speaking Canada is pioneering sports clubs with homeschoolers. Two seasons have been successfully completed in one area. Please pray for the development of new clubs in other areas.
