Psalm 119:172

Psalm 119:172 “May my tongue sing of Your Word, for all Your commands are righteous.”
 

David is praying, “May my tongue sing of Your Word.” The song writer had it right when he wrote, “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing.” Singing the Word of God is one of the ways to tame the tongue. When your tongue sings or speaks the Word, you speak perfectly. James says the tongue “is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” James 3:8. Earlier in the same chapter he says that if anyone can tame the tongue he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 

The only time a person is perfect (mature) is when they never errs with their tongue. When one never errs, they are able to control their whole body. When one sings the Word of God, when their lips are full of praise to God, their tongue is tamed. That is one of the only times you speak without any kind of error whatsoever. When your life is a continual praise, when you sing and speak the Word of God, you again control your body because you do not sin as you speak God’s Word.
 

“With our tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people... Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing, this should not be" James 3:9-11. The more we give ourselves over to singing and praising God, the less we will curse people. If we had hearts like David’s, hearts that seek God, our lives would be full of praise to God. This would keep us from praising and cursing out of the same tongue (mouth).
 

The reason David sang the Word was because God’s commands are righteous. Righteousness has to do with the right treatment of others. When we sing the Word because we love the righteous treatment of people, we no longer curse out of the same tongue. We then use our tongue to bless people.
 

Take some time today to meditate on this verse. As you do, consider whether or not you have tamed your tongue through praise.   Continued