Scripture:
Leviticus 5:4-5 ESV
[4] or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; [5] when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed,
Observation:
Just in case you didn’t notice we are still in the book of Leviticus and this particular book explains the sacrificial system that GOD’s chosen people lived by. At this point in the reading, we have gone over some really heavy sins. However, that’s not what I want to zero in on. Leviticus 5:4-5 to are still talking about sin. GOD wanted them to think about what they say. Let’s look at vr:4 it breaks down to this. If anyone speaks without thinking. Once he realizes what he has done. Vr:5 comes into play once he sees his sin he has to confess and make it right. Several scriptures come to mind here so I think it’s time to get into the.
Application:
How often do we speak without thinking? You know you can’t take those words back once they are said. And the power of our words is pretty clear in the bible. It’s also something that GOD doesn’t take lightly. We were reading James chapter 5 last night at men’s bible study when we came across vr:12 which talks about making an oath. It states that we should just do what we say and say what we do. I honestly believe that when we let our character speak for us it says more than our words ever could. Let your yes be yes then you won’t have to make promises you never intend to uphold. The other side of these verses in Leviticus is we really need to think before we speak especially when we are mad or hurt or disappointed. Like I said a minute ago our words can’t wound others. I have been guilty of this my emotions will get to a point and I say something I don’t mean. We can go back to James for wisdom on this as well. James 1:19-20 tells us to listen GOD gave us 2 ears and one mouth for a reason. We should talk half as much as we listen. My point to all this is we need to guard our words they are like a sword and we can’t just run around cutting people’s ears off thinking we are doing them a favor. Let’s be slow to speak think about what we do say and do what we say we are going to. That’s integrity. I want to be a man that is trusted in the town square.
Prayer:
Father, you have laid out a path for us in your word. You have given us instructions on how to walk and how not to walk. I pray that we guard our words. We do not want to be saying things we don’t mean, and we don’t want to say things to intentionally hurt people let us think about our words and let nothing leave our mouths that do not build someone up or edify them. We are made to love. We do that in word and in deed, Father, guard our lips. They can at times be unclean please touch them with the coal from the altar. The last thing I want to do is hurt someone with something I have said. Mold us into the Image of your son. In Jesus name I pray amen.