Psalm 59:12

Psalm 59:12

The sins of their mouths

This is not the first time, in the Psalms, that we find our attention being drawn to the improper use of speech! Here David talks about, “the sins of their mouths.” There is a constant theme throughout the Psalms that the most damaging, and incriminating, tools of the enemy are not his sword or his spear but the words that he speaks. Lies, slander and curses, these are the most potent of weapons and they are available to all. On an international scale, long before tanks, fighter jets and frigates go into action, there has already been a war of words. In the office, the school playground, the home and even in churches, the battle lines are drawn by verbal exchanges and the same old rules apply. Tell lies about your adversary. Make up stories, bend the truth, spread rumours, and if you really hate them – curse them! Perhaps we should not judge any conflict by just the numbers of the fallen but by the proliferation of lies, slander and curses?

In David’s mind there was one other sin that characterised his enemies, it was pride. You see, if you stand against God’s King, and God’s nation and God’s holy people and if you curse the name of God’s Son or even the Father Himself, then you stand on very dangerous ground. To do so you must think that you know better, that you are greater, that there are no consequences of such actions, that you are free to speak whatever you like because you are bigger and wiser and smarter than your targeted adversary. How foolish! How incredibly stupid to challenge the Lord God in such a way! Pride has been and will be the downfall of so many, even of those who speak against you and I. The world will be judged for its treatment of God’s people, of even criticising us for our faith. Only the proud would dare to do this and the words of the proud will bring about their downfall. 

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