Tag Archives: power of words

Aiming Cruel Words

15 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by in Devotionals, Psalms

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Reading:                                            Psalm 64

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from the plots of evildoers.
They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
they shoot suddenly, without fear.

They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?”
They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!”
Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

But God will shoot them with his arrows;
they will suddenly be struck down.
He will turn their own tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
All people will fear; they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.

The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him;
all the upright in heart will glory in him! (NIV).

Reflection

I am writing this post in the final days of an election campaign here in Canada. In the context of an election, the words of this psalm have a peculiar resonance. Politicians’ tongues have been sharpened like swords. Cruel words have been aimed at opponents like deadly arrows. The airwaves are saturated with lies, propaganda and half-truths coming from all sides.

Be a bridge builder with words. --David Kitz

Be a bridge builder with words. –David Kitz

Rest easy, dear reader, I’m not about to take sides in a political debate. But Psalm 64 contains some important truths that we would be wise to heed.

First, our tongues have deadly power. The poison of vipers is in the tongue. Many young people have taken their own lives because of the taunting of others. Social media has only worsened the situation, since one can now mount an attack from a distance. The venom that is often spewed in website comment boxes is beyond disgusting. The cruelty and depravity of the human heart are on full display. As the psalmist, David says, “Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.”

So then guard the thoughts of your heart and mind. Take care what you put into print. It can have a profound effect for good or evil. The LORD is our refuge from cruel taunts, but He also is our judge.

Response: LORD God, help me to use wisdom and discretion in all I say, write or post. You are the judge of every idle word. Holy Spirit, guard my heart and my mind. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you been the victim of social media attacks? How did you respond?

The Creative Power of Words

14 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by in Psalm 33, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 33

(Verses 6-9)

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,     

their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;     

he puts the deep into storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD;     

let all the people of the world revere him.

For he spoke, and it came to be;     

he commanded, and it stood firm. (NIV)

 Reflection

Have you ever considered the creative power of words? Words change the world. They bring order out of chaos. Words shine the light of day into the darkness of this world. From the very beginning words have been imbued with divine power. The psalmist reminds us, “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”

Swamp 2014-05-10

But it’s not only God’s words that have this vast power. Our words—human words, whether spoken or written have enormous power too. Adam’s first job assignment was to speak words—to name the animals. Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals (Genesis 2: 19-20).

Strangely, God did not do what every parent does. He didn’t tell Adam what the animals were called. Adam told God their names. By so doing, God vested mankind with the power of language. Life is what we call it.

Our words describe the world and give meaning to it. Through our words we bring order and make sense of the world around us. As a writer I am continually processing and attempting to make sense of this chaotic thing called life. I do it with words. That’s what we are called to do.

With our words we shine the light of truth onto a situation. With words we write laws, administer justice and design our government. With words we woo and romance and vow our love to one another. Our words create imaginary realms into which we can travel—words that transport. With our words we have the power to elevate the human spirit, or crush someone to the point of suicide.

Ott Riv 2014-05-10

Finally, there is something innately prophetic about our words. What we speak and write is potent. It has within in it the latent ability to become reality. Therefore, we need to guard our lips. See James 3:1-12. The psalmist reminds us not only of the power of the word of the LORD, but also our own words. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Response: LORD God, help me give careful consideration to my words. Today, may my words be a creative force for good in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Your Turn: How has God used your words for good lately?