Our lip-watchman.
Our lips are poetically presented as the door of our mouth. A man's heart is not to be trusted as an inspirer of speech. Every man needs to have the speech examined and tested before it is let pass the door of his lips. The psalmist feels that he cannot trust himself to examine, criticize, qualify his own speech, especially in times of excitement. And yet he must do this work himself. No one but himself can know what he is inwardly urged to say. In asking God to set a sentinel at the door of his lips, the psalmist does but, in a figure, ask God to give him quietness and self-control, so that he may be able to judge the wisdom of what he is moved to speak. For if any man asks God to "set a watch at the door of his lips," God will answer the prayer by making the man his own sentinel, and giving him that most valuable power, the power of self-criticism. Why do we need a watchman?
I. BECAUSE OF OUR NATURAL DISPOSITIONS. Many are nervously excitable; oversensitive; quick to reply; impulsive; ready to suspect evil; or passionate. And many have no keen sense of the befitting or the becoming. Some are talkative, and readily carried by excitement beyond the bounds of prudence. What all such persons really need is not to be put into bonds and limitations, but by Divine grace to be helped to gain control of themselves. Their life-work is in their own dispositions; and God's grace is ready for the strain and conflict of that life-work.
II. BECAUSE OF OUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. The psalmist was suffering persecution; he was misunderstood and slandered, and was afraid of himself lest he should speak, under excitement, rash and bitter words. Our circumstances of peril are:
1. When anger rises within.
2. When those we address are angry.
3. When speaking of those against whom we are prejudiced.
4. When in the presence of those who may wrongly report us.
5. When we have reason to fear that the innocent may be injured.
6. When we have reason to doubt our own motives. In this matter of watching speech, God helps those who help themselves.—R.T.