November 1Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips — Psa. 141:3.
The number of watchmen or pickets doing duty and standing guard over our actions and words will be fewer in proportion as the picket line guarding our minds, our thoughts, is a strong one. It is here that we need to be especially on the alert. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." This general truth is particularly exemplified in the regenerate, who are more open in their conduct and language, proportionately, than others. Having the right sentiments at heart they are less on their guard in respect to their manner of expression perhaps than previously; but all the more, they need to remember the words of the Apostle, "If any man sin not with his lips, the same is a perfect man" (Jas. 3:2)—Z '04, 23 (R 3304). Because of his liability to err in word and of the liability of the majority to misunderstand, and of a minority to misrepresent, the Christian must guard well his speech. The failure so to do has wrought much evil, while success in so doing has not only prevented evil but also has accomplished much good. The surest way of guarding our lips is in having the Truth fill our minds and impress its spirit upon our hearts. As we cannot do this of ourselves, how fitting that we pray the Lord to set a watch before our mouth and to keep the door of our lips. Then we will not offend in word—P '34, 159. Parallel passages: Ex. 22:28; Psa. 10:7, 8; 12:3, 4; 34:13; 41:5-9; 52:2-4; 59:12; 64:2-5; 106:33; 119:23; 120; Prov. 4:24; 6:16-19; 8:13; 10:11, 19, 31, 32; 11:11; 12:5, 6, 13, 17-19; 13:3; 14:25; 15:1, 4, 28; 18:21; Matt. 12:34-37; Rom. 3:13, 14; Eph. 4:25, 29, 31; Col. 4:6; Titus 1:10, 11; 3:2; Jas. 1:19, 26; 3:5-10; 4:11; 1 Pet. 3:9, 10. Hymns: 145, 1, 44, 78, 154, 183, 208. Poems of Dawn, 143: In the Presence of the King. Tower Reading: Z '06, 76 (R 3737). Questions: What have been this week's experiences in line with this text? What helped or hindered therein? In what did they result? |
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IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING
IF we could always feel each little thing
We do, each hour we spend
Within the presence of the King,
What dignity—'twould lend!
If we could realize our every thought
Is known to Him, our King,
With how great carefulness would it be fraught,
And what a blessing bring!
If, when some sharp word leaves a cruel sting,
Our faith could know and feel
'Twas heard within the presence of the King,
How soon the wound would heal!
Oh, when the song of life seems hard to sing,
And darker grows the way,—
Draw nearer to the presence of the King,
And night shall turn to day!
IF we could always feel each little thing
We do, each hour we spend
Within the presence of the King,
What dignity—'twould lend!
If we could realize our every thought
Is known to Him, our King,
With how great carefulness would it be fraught,
And what a blessing bring!
If, when some sharp word leaves a cruel sting,
Our faith could know and feel
'Twas heard within the presence of the King,
How soon the wound would heal!
Oh, when the song of life seems hard to sing,
And darker grows the way,—
Draw nearer to the presence of the King,
And night shall turn to day!
