What can we learn from Psalm 36:3 about avoiding deceitful speech? Setting the Scene Psalm 36 contrasts the ways of the wicked with the steadfast love of God. Verse 3 pinpoints how evil shows up in everyday conversation. “The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.” (Psalm 36:3) What the Verse Reveals • Wicked words flow out of a heart already bent toward evil; speech is a barometer of the inner life (Matthew 12:34). • Deceit replaces wisdom. When a person stops speaking truth, genuine wisdom and upright action dry up as well (James 3:13–17). • The decline is progressive: first abandoning wisdom, then abandoning all “well-doing.” The tongue leads the life (James 3:2–6). Practical Lessons for Guarding Our Tongues 1. Recognize the Link between Speech and Character – Deceitful words advertise a deeper moral problem (Proverbs 4:24). – Guarding the tongue begins with guarding the heart (Proverbs 4:23). 2. Choose Wisdom over Craftiness – True wisdom and dishonest speech cannot coexist (Proverbs 8:7). – Ask God for wisdom daily (James 1:5); wisdom yields truthful, peaceable words (James 3:17). 3. Love What God Loves, Hate What He Hates – “Lying lips are detestable to the LORD” (Proverbs 12:22). – Align your affections with His, and deceit will lose its appeal. 4. Replace Deceit with Edifying Truth – “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully” (Ephesians 4:25). – Intentionally speak words that build up (Ephesians 4:29). 5. Cultivate Daily Self-Examination – Pray Psalm 139:23–24 to expose hidden falsehood. – Confess quickly when deceit slips out (1 John 1:9). Supporting Scriptures • Psalm 34:13 – “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” • Colossians 3:9 – “Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices.” • Proverbs 16:13 – “Righteous lips are a king’s delight; he loves those who speak honestly.” Steps to Apply Today • Start the day by reading a Proverb about speech; let it set the tone. • Before speaking, ask: “Is it true? Is it loving? Is it necessary?” • Memorize Psalm 36:3 to remind yourself of the cost of deceit. • If tempted to shade the truth, pause, breathe, and rephrase honestly. • Celebrate victories—every time you choose truth, you grow in wisdom and “well-doing.” Encouragement to Persist God’s grace trains us to renounce deceit and live upright, tongue and all (Titus 2:11-12). Keep leaning on that grace, and your speech will increasingly mirror the truthful character of the One you follow. |
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