Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Thursday, August 5 2022

5

Theme: EVIL COMMUNICATION

Text: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” – Psalm 19:13.

Comment: Under divine inspiration, the prophet David provided answers to the question, “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?” saying, “He that walketh uprightly …. and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor…” – Psalm 15:2-3.

 

It is often said, “talk is cheap.” A person may casually initiate certain conversations which his neighbour may find sensitive, provocative, or offensive. Such utterances lead to problems either because it opens up old wounds or leads to assassination of character. The worst of all is when such words are used to revile God and His work.

 

In prophecy, Jude the apostle, in graphic terms, highlights the punishment awaiting those who use their lips in meddling in theocratic matters. He stated: “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves… Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.” – Jude 8:10, 14-16.