Hold Your Tongue

Psalm 12

¹ Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore;
       those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
    ² Everyone lies to their neighbor;
       they flatter with their lips
       but harbor deception in their hearts.
    ³ May the LORD silence all flattering lips
       and every boastful tongue—
    ⁴ those who say,
       "By our tongues we will prevail;
       our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?"
    ⁵ "Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
       I will now arise," says the LORD.
       "I will protect them from those who malign them."
    ⁶ And the words of the LORD are flawless,
       like silver purified in a crucible,
       like gold refined seven times.
    ⁷ You, LORD, will keep the needy safe
       and will protect us forever from the wicked,
    ⁸ who freely strut about
       while depravity is honored by the human race.

You know the saying 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all'?  I think that's only part of it.  Because looking at verse two of this chapter, we can say all kinds of nice things, but God looks in our hearts too.  The Psalmist tells us that God will silence all lying lips and 'boastful tongues'.  He wants to protect those who can't fight for themselves. 

We all root for the underdog, don't we?  Some of my favorite movies are about the underdog beating the odds and winning.  In The Karate Kid (starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Moriata), my favorite scene is the last shot, where Mr. Miyagi smiles knowingly because Daniel-sun just beat the bullies and won their respect.  It was that face, that moment of 'I-am-proud-of-you' that I hope I can always feel when I am down and fighting my way out.  I don't want to cheat, bully, put down, or compromise myself.  I want to depend on the Lord for everything.