I said, "I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will keep a muzzle on my mouth
As long as the wicked are in my presence."
I was silent and still; I held my peace to no avail;
My distress grew worse, my heart became hot within me.
While I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
"Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days;
Let me know how fleeting my life is.
You have made my days a few handbreadths,
And my lifetime is as nothing in your sight.
Surely everyone stands as a mere breath.
Surely everyone goes about like a shadow.
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
They heap up, and do not know who will gather.
And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Do not make me the scorn of the fool.
I am silent; I do not open my mouth,
Or it is you who have done it.
Remove your stroke from me; I am worn down by the blows of your hand.
You chastise mortals in punishment for sin,
Consuming like a moth what is dear to them;
Surely everyone is a mere breath.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry;
Do not hold your peace at my tears.
For I am your passing guest, an alien, like all my forebears.
Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again,
Before I depart and am no more."
THOUGHTS:
I have from time to time been inspired by the third chapter of James to try to "tame my tongue." So I aim for wit that is less sharp, less directed at others, less likely to incite anger or shame in others. Invariably these efforts fall short: Just when I think I've got things under control, I let my guard down, open my mouth, and something comes out that I REALLY regret.
Though the Psalmist bites his tongue for a different reason, I recognize the same tension building the longer I keep my mouth shut: A strong sense of mortality and sinfulness, as I am left alone with nothing but my own thoughts rattling around my head. And just as the Psalmist concludes, I want God to turn away from me and my guilt and shame.
Only one thing turns the gaze away, of course, and the price is unimaginably high. On the cross, Jesus turns our mortality and sinfulness upon himself. Beholding that sight, we might want to try to do it for ourselves instead. Step in and save him the trouble—it's our fault, after all, not his. But to no avail. Only the cross is enough; only the Son's sacrifice is enough.
So like the Psalmist, we do finally keep silence before the awesome majesty of God. And then we cannot keep our mouths shut any longer, so we open our hearts and mouths and cry, "Deliver us!" We wait for our Lord and place our hope solely in him.
I have from time to time been inspired by the third chapter of James to try to "tame my tongue." So I aim for wit that is less sharp, less directed at others, less likely to incite anger or shame in others. Invariably these efforts fall short: Just when I think I've got things under control, I let my guard down, open my mouth, and something comes out that I REALLY regret.
Though the Psalmist bites his tongue for a different reason, I recognize the same tension building the longer I keep my mouth shut: A strong sense of mortality and sinfulness, as I am left alone with nothing but my own thoughts rattling around my head. And just as the Psalmist concludes, I want God to turn away from me and my guilt and shame.
Only one thing turns the gaze away, of course, and the price is unimaginably high. On the cross, Jesus turns our mortality and sinfulness upon himself. Beholding that sight, we might want to try to do it for ourselves instead. Step in and save him the trouble—it's our fault, after all, not his. But to no avail. Only the cross is enough; only the Son's sacrifice is enough.
So like the Psalmist, we do finally keep silence before the awesome majesty of God. And then we cannot keep our mouths shut any longer, so we open our hearts and mouths and cry, "Deliver us!" We wait for our Lord and place our hope solely in him.
PRAYER:
Let us pray: God, our Creator and Redeemer, we cannot tame our worst habits by our own power, but by your power you blot out our offenses, and strengthen us to overcome them. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen
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Thoughts by Jon Myers, ELCA seminarian at Princeton Theological Seminary
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