O Thou Deceitful Tongue

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-26-2022

Psalm 52

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 52 is ascribed to David when he was hiding from Saul. 

 

1.  David went to Kirjathjearim where the Tabernacle of the Congregation was for 20 years until David brought it home to its proper place.

 

2.  He and his men came to Ahimelech, the Priest, and Ahimelech gave David’s men food and also Goliath’s sword to David.  1 Samuel 21:1-9

 

3.  Doeg, the chief of herdsman for Saul, saw David there and went and told Saul. 

 

4.  Saul called Ahimelech and the priests and, when they came, had Doeg and Saul’s footmen to destroy them.  85 priests died that day because of the treason and tongue of Doeg.

 

B.  David breaks the Psalm into three parts:

 

1.  Verses 1-4.  The wickedness of the deceitful tongue.

 

2.  Verses 5-7.  The impending judgment of God.

 

3.  Verses 8-9.  David’s protection from the tongue.

 

C.  There are several descriptions of this wicked use of the tongue found in verses 1-4.

 

1.  Verse 2.  A Devising Tongue – Doeg the Mischievous.  “Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully”

 

2.   Verse 3.  A Deceptive Tongue – Doeg the Liar.  “Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness.”

 

3.  Verse 4.  A Devouring Tongue – Doeg the Hateful.  “Thou lovest all devouring words,”

 

4.  Verse 4.  A Deceitful Tongue – Doeg the Wicked.  “O thou deceitful tongue.”

 

5.  Verse 5.  A Destroying Tongue -Doeg the Destroyed.   “God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living.” The Double Sword – Destroys both the speaker and the spoken about

 

6.  Verses 6-7.  The Derision of the Saved – “The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him”

 

7.  Verse 8.  The Defense of the Saved – “I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. “

 

8.  Verse 9.  The Devotion of the Saved – “I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.”

 

D.  The tongue is a dangerous thing.  “Never leave your tongue in gear when your brain is idling.”  The tongue is often called the wickedest member of the church.  Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

 

1.  A Divisive Tongue - Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

2.  A Gossiping Tongue - Proverbs 26:20   Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

 

3.  A Backbiting Tongue - Psalms 15:1-3  LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

 

4.  A Prating Tongue - 3 John 9-10   I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

 

5.  A Deceitful Tongue - Psalms 50:19  Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

 

6.  A Murmuring Tongue – Acts 6:1   And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

 

7.  A Discouraging Tongue - Deuteronomy 1:28  Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

 

Proverbs 21:23  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.