"I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred."
Psalm 39:1-2
Part 1
“…I said.”
David’s resolution. He said that this is something he took personally. This is his promise. These words went to the chief Musician, so everyone knew of his decision.
“I will take heed to my ways.”
He will keep himself in check.
“[I will take heed to my ways] Lit. I will keep my ways: keep watch and ward over thought word and action.”[1]
David was concerned that he does not lose his way in this temptation. His desire is to do the right thing.
“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul” (Psalm 16:17).
“…take heed = observe, keep, or guard”[2] (Bullinger).
He knew the importance of “taking heed” of his way. He knew what Moses’ law said.
“Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons” (Deuteronomy 4:9).
We are responsible for being “in control” of ourselves, to “keep thy soul diligently,” and to focus on our God and live our lives for Him.
“That I sin not with my tongue.”
Just as Job had refused to sin with his mouth in his ordeal, David was cautious with his words.
“Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul” (Job 31:30).
“I will keep my mouth with a bridle.”
David was willing to muzzle his mouth to avoid saying the wrong thing.
“I will keep my mouth with a bridle,” or more accurately, with a muzzle. The original does not so much mean a bridle to check the tongue as a muzzle to stop it altogether”[3] (Spurgeon).
Years later, James is going to write,
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26).
The person who says whatever comes to mind without any thought or filters shows that his religion is worthless and empty. David was determined to be silent and let nothing escape his lips!
Why was David so concerned about muzzling his mouth in front of the wicked? Tomorrow we will investigate this more in-depth. See you then.
Quote: “Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress” (Psalm 17:3).
[1] Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] E.W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, the electronic version in eSword.