What is the meaning of Psalm 141:3? Set a guard David pictures a sentry posted at the gate of a fortress—only here the gate is his tongue. He knows careless words wound, deceive, and dishonor God, so he pleads for divine protection before speech even forms. • Psalm 39:1: “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue.” • Proverbs 21:23 shows the blessing of such vigilance: “He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.” • 1 Peter 3:10 echoes the same safeguard for believers in Christ. O LORD, over my mouth The appeal is personal and humble. David does not trust self-discipline alone; he asks the covenant LORD to take command. Our mouths belong to Him—created to praise (Psalm 71:8) and confess faith (Romans 10:9). • James 3:8-10 warns how untamed speech can “curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness,” yet tells us the same mouth should bless. • Luke 6:45 reminds us our words reveal the heart, so inviting God’s oversight is an invitation for heart-level cleansing. keep watch at the door of my lips The image shifts to a night watchman stationed at a doorway, scrutinizing each “visitor.” Words that do not glorify God are refused entry. • Proverbs 13:3: “He who guards his mouth preserves his life.” • Psalm 19:14 pairs lip-guarding with inner purity: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight.” • Ephesians 4:29 instructs, “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up,” matching David’s desire for a divinely monitored threshold. • Matthew 12:36 warns, “Men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word,” underscoring why we need constant surveillance at this door. summary Psalm 141:3 is a concise plea for God to station Himself as both guard and watchman over everything we say. Recognizing the destructive power of the tongue and our inability to restrain it alone, we ask the LORD to filter every word, allowing only speech that honors Him and edifies others. Controlled lips testify to a heart submitted to Christ, turning a potential source of sin into an instrument of grace. |
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