Taken from The Oil That Makes Glad by A. B. Saint
Psalm 141
I was once in someone else’s home; there were no males present just a company of the fairer sex and all were Christians who knew each other fairly well. Everything was going fine until a certain subject was brought up in the free flowing conversation. It followed that one of the older ladies quickly took up a different point of view from the others. It has to be said that she did this in rather a blunt and forceful way and she was firmly put in her place by one of the younger women. There followed an embarrassing silence which was only broken by the older lady apologising to the rest in the group, and then with tears in her eyes, she turned to the younger woman who had publicly rebuked her and thanked her for her correction. When this was done everything went back to normal.
Later, on my way home I thought about this incident, and I wondered if it could have been done in a different way. To me it was obvious that this older sister in the Lord had strong feelings about certain things and had perhaps in that moment have come across a little more energetically than she planned to. I also considered that it might have been better for all, particularly this lady, if the correction had been done in a gentler way or even in private. I do not believe this precious saint of God would forget that incident overnight, but I feel sure that it would have served a useful purpose in causing her to restrain herself more when sharing her point of view in the company of others.
Sometimes I too have to remind myself that often the desire to say something is greater than the actual need to say something. Yes, there is a time to speak and to stand up and be counted but there is also a time to refrain from speaking, remembering that it is far easier to tear down than it is to build. At the same time, I did wonder if the rest of those of us assembled that day would have reacted so graciously when taking such correction from a much younger person, not only in years but also in the Faith.
Psalm 141 is familiar to those who love the book of Psalms, although it has to be said that some of its verses certainly give the impression of being somewhat puzzling and unclear. As the Psalm opens it strikes the reader immediately that it must have been written during a time of great temptation and testing in David’s life.
In the opening verses we see him eagerly calling upon the Name of the Lord during this time of trial which he now finds himself in. At the same time, he is also conscious that his prayer must be offered aright, in that not only his lips but the whole of his life is right before the Lord, in order that his supplication be heard and answered. That day not only his complaint but also his conduct is brought squarely before the Lord.
Written as a superscription above this Psalm, my own bible tells me that the background of it is to do with the time of the hostility and the harassment of king Saul. Others however do not necessarily agree with this and refer rather to the time of Absalom’s revolt and rebellion against his father David. It is not given us to truly know all the circumstances, but this is one of the instances where it matters not.
To me, in the reciting of this prayer, the balance tips more towards what is being revealed in David rather than what is happening to David. In the time of his calamity, he calls upon the Name of the Lord. He cries out: “Lord, I cry unto Thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto Thee. Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
I often ask myself how people who know not the Lord manage to deal with their problems. It must be so hard for them. When hardship and difficulties come their way to whom do they go? In times of loneliness, or failure, or when sickness or grief knocks upon their door, to whom do they turn? They may confide in a family member, or call upon a life-time friend. They may turn to the help of a trained counselor, or they may even try to find some inner strength which lies within them without ever realising there is a God in heaven who cares for them and who is only a prayer away.
However, for David, God was personal to him, and so David comes before the Lord as would a little child. Thinking of children, do you remember as a child how often your parent, or a teacher maybe from your school, would remind you that God had given you two ears but just one mouth for a reason? In other words, you were to listen carefully to anything you heard before you said anything. ‘Think before you speak’ was often drilled into us, but sadly, how often in my own case did these words at times fall by the wayside.
How wise that David, acknowledging his need for the Lord in his life, should include in his petition these words laid out for us when in verse three he continues with: “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Oh, what wisdom is spoken here. Whenever I get around to reading this Psalm, a health related article I once read written by a health professional of some kind or other, always pops into my mind. I suppose when it was written, it was to make people think of their oral health or something. Yet, in a sense it corresponds very much to what we are talking about just now. In bold letters it simply read: “WHAT DOES YOUR TONGUE SAY ABOUT YOU?”
So much is said in Scripture on this particular subject, is it not? For instance, in the book of Proverbs chapter 21 and verse 23 we read: “Whoso keepeth his mouth, and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.” Again, in the same book, chapter 18, and verse 21 we have this powerful statement which informs us that: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Over in the New Testament in James chapter 1 and verse 26, he says: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” Yet again in 1 Peter 3 and verse 10, Peter adds these words: “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.”
I was speaking to someone only recently who told me that when he was a young boy he had many negative words spoken into his life by family members which at the time caused him great sorrow. Even as an older man he confided to me that he still remembered these words and the hurt they brought him all these years later. It wasn’t that he hadn’t forgiven those who had spoken such things to him he just wished they hadn’t been spoken in the first place. No wonder Proverbs chapter 12 and verse 18 tells how the tongue can pierce even like a sword. Did not David himself on another occasion when writing Psalm 64, speak of this very same thing when he wrote of those who whet their tongue like a bow and proceeded to shoot arrows of bitter words?
How different from those who choose to speak positive words, godly words, wholesome words, words of guidance, words of instruction, words which bring joy and contentment and veritable health to the hearer. Proverbs chapter 15 and verse 4 says: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”
What is a breach in the spirit? It means a spirit which has become crushed, or damaged, or injured in some way. I cast my mind back to an elderly lady from church, now gone home to be with the Lord, and remember how she would often describe those occasions when someone had offended her. She would then proceed to tell us that when she had been very hurt by someone’s words she wasn’t just hurt but she was wounded. The hurt had evidently gone deep.
How often do we hear this statement: WORDS CARRY POWER! A thoughtless exchange of words can wreak much havoc. I am no scientist but what I do know is that when we hear or receive any words which carries with them some form of negativity, after a while the chemistry in the brain is changed and goes into a kind of stress mode which affects its function. Indeed, the more negativity we hear the more negative we ourselves can tend to become.
We have to learn to be a voice for good in this world of ours and for this we must bring God into the equation. Just as with anything else, we of ourselves have not the power to tame the tongue. We can only overcome through prayer and with the help of the Holy Spirit. Like the Psalmist who lived before us, we must seek the Lord for His help in this area.
David was aware of his own weaknesses, and knew well his utter dependence upon the Lord in every part of his life. He is conscious of his own frailties and of his sometimes ‘missing the mark’ in the battle of life. Knowing what he knows, his desire is that of not being swept along with the same tide that carries the unrighteous along with it. He does not want to be enticed with their delicacies. Let’s face it, for good or for bad, everything begins in the heart.
In verse 4 he says: “Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.” At first reading, the way this is written it is as if there is a possible chance that God would in some way, shape or form, have the desire to lead any of His people into sin. It would be erroneous to even consider this for a moment. God never leads His people into temptation.
David, although still imperfect as are we all this side of heaven, was not inclined in heart to perpetual wrongdoing and did not have the desire to practice wicked works with those who loved to do so. In the company of others, he did not wish to be drawn into any such things for whatever reason. What these delicacies were we have no idea. Were they favours given as a result of wrongdoing? Were they praises of men received from those of like mind? Even if this Psalm is actually referring to sitting down and eating sweet meats at their table, this did not appeal to him. To do this he would have to be an integral part of their company which also meant a partaker of their sins. He was too well aware that friendship with this world will eventually lead to bitterness of soul.
We then move on to verse 5, which to be honest is actually the very hub of our thoughts today. Here we read: “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil……”
In this verse, David’s thought processes have moved away from the wicked to include those of the righteous. Not only does he desire the Lord to correct him if ever he is inclined to do or say anything wrong, but he pushes on in his prayer and adds that if needed he will gladly accept godly reproof from those who are upright in heart. He knows the purpose of this is to lead him to that spiritual maturity that he so desires.
Indeed, he says: “It shall be an excellent oil” upon the head. In other words, he would take it as a kindness, and he would accept it as being necessary for his spiritual growth. He looks to this process as being a healing stream which would thus flow over him with its healing balm and produce the effects of righteousness within his life. This ‘oil’ would nourish and feed into his life and spirit.
Now we are all aware that it is not always easy to accept correction, especially if we don’t feel the need for it ourselves. But this Psalm is not speaking about unnecessary harsh criticism, but rather that gentle, godly correction, lovingly given by those whom we know and love. We are not talking condemnation here nor are we talking fault finding for the sake of it.
Just like the lady we spoke about at the beginning of this article, who with tears in her eyes, and still feeling the sting of that reprimand, graciously accepted what was I think an unacceptable rebuke at that time from her younger sister in the Lord. Being called out in person in front of others over what I think was a minor misdemeanour was uncalled for. It might have been better to let the moment pass or at least wait until everyone else had gone home. As I write I have been thinking of an acrostic for the word Oil and its use in correction, and one has just come to mind. It is simply this: OFFERED IN LOVE. Love must be in everything we say, think or do, including in what we are talking about today.
THOUGHT: What does the bible say in the book of Galatians chapter 6 and verse 1. Let’s read from the Amplified Version: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual, that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit, are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness, not with a sense of superiority, or self-righteousness, keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.”
Amen Lord.
LIFE ON THE ALTAR 