“The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things: Who have said, ‘With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?’” Psalm 12:3-4
My head hurts! Both the outside and inside! My dad has been gone now for about 18 years. But he is still memorable because of what occasionally creeps up in my life. He had bouts with pilar cysts on occasion, and that wonderful trait has been passed on to me. Yesterday I went to my favorite doctor and he cut two of them out of my scalp. NO!!! THIS is NOT a picture of MY head!
When I went to see my son last week, his wife told me was in a sore mood. HE had just had a big pilar cyst cut out of his scalp… and he was rather cranky! Apparently passing on the love continues. MAYBE next time we can get together for a family discount!!!!
The pain on the inside of my head is NOT from cyst removal. But the problem is no less inherited. My mind carries within it the propensity to think things that it should not. Inherited flesh sees to it that even at my best, I still carry with me the bent of stinkin’ thinkin’! And like those pesky cysts, which only grow larger when left alone… well those thoughts have ‘got to go’ because they are not good for me! What to do? I go to the GREAT Physician and His Word for eradication surgery.
I like my doctor. He is also a friend of mine. Truth be told, I’d rather spend time with him as my friend than as my doctor. But it’s nice to know that when doctoring needs done, a friend holds the scalpel! It is the same scenario with God. God is also my friend and He loves me. But LOVE is an ACTION that often goes where it is NOT exactly welcome! Just like my earthy physician gives me sound advice for a healthy life, so does my heavenly Doctor!
There is a TV show out now called ‘Dr. Pimple Popper.’ It is popular for a VERY weird reason. We ALL seem to react in the same way to the grotesque! Our first reaction is to repel and say “OOOOO GROSS!” But for SOME reason… we seem go back for a second or third look! It is the same with the sin of stinkin’ thinkin’. There is an inherited, grotesque fascination with it. THAT is why we need help in getting rid of it!
This verse today, when taken literally, portrays a picture of some cranky folks standing around with no lips! But it is a metaphor for judgment. Jesus said that HE ALONE was THE only ‘Truth’ in the Universe (John 14:6). Whether you think He is, or is lying, or just plain nuts… is YOUR decision. But for anyone claiming that ‘TRUTH’ title for themselves, this Psalm says they will be ‘cut off’ from God’s world. Their own opinions of themselves will not be welcome. Me? I’d rather get stinkin’ thinkin’ cut ‘out’ HERE… rather than let it fester to get cut ‘off’ THERE! Scalpel?
