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Sunday Worship 13 February 2022 : “The mouth of the righteous”

Text: Psalm 37
13 February 2022

INTRODUCTION

1. The world speaks of “freedom of speech”

2. Many take advantage of this “human right”

a) To promote what they wish
b) Not necessarily because of a righteous cause

3. What do the Scriptures teach us about how we should employ speech?

THE ARROGANT MOUTH OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS

1 Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases!
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.

2 They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;
With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
And the tongue that speaks proud things,

4 Who have said,
“With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own;
Who is lord over us?”

Psalm 12:1-4

1. The danger of the Disappearing Righteous

a) The godly man ceases
b) The faithful disappear

2. The Danger of the Deadly Tongue

a) Idle speech
b) Flattering lips of a double heart
c) Speaking proudly
d) Arrogance
“With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own
Who is lord over us?”   Psalm 12:4

3. Vital prayers

a) Help, LORD   (Psalm 12:1a)
b) May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
And the tongue that speaks proud things!   (Psalm 12:3)

THE PROBLEM OF INJUSTICE

1. Psalm 82

A Psalm of Asaph

2. Context

a) God examines the Judges
b) They are supposed to uphold Justice
c) The Judges are called “the gods”   (Psalm 82:1b)
d) The word “gods”
“You are (like) gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.”   Psalm 82:6

3. The word of God against the Wicked Judges

a) How long will you judge unjustly   (Psalm 82:2a)
b) And show partiality to the wicked   (Psalm 82:2b)

4. The command of God to do what is righteous

a) Defend the poor and the fatherless   (Psalm 82:3a)
b) Do justice to the afflicted and needy   (Psalm 82:3b)
c) Deliver the poor and needy   (Psalm 82:4a)
d) Free them from the hand of the wicked   (Psalm 82:4b)

5. When Injustice prevails

a) They do not know, nor do they understand;   (Psalm 82:5a)
b) They walk in darkness   (Psalm 82:5b)
c) All the foundations of the earth are unstable   (Psalm 82:5c)

THE MOUTH OF THE RIGHTEOUS

1. Wisdom

The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom   (Psalm 37:30a)
a) Wisdom comes from knowledge
b) Knowledge of Righteousness comes from the Lord

2. Justice

And his tongue talks of justice   (Psalm 37:30b)
a) For there is much injustice
b) The righteous will stand up for justice

CONCLUSION

4 “The Lord GOD has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned.

5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not rebellious,
Nor did I turn away.
6 I gave My back to those who struck Me,
And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;
I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.

7 “For the Lord GOD will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.

8 He is near who justifies Me;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand together.
Who is My adversary?
Let him come near Me.

Isaiah 50:4-8

1. To pray for the Tongue of the learned

2. To trust that God will help us

3. To have a strong sense of courage

4. To know that God is near