“Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.” (Psalm 17:3)
For some of us the verse we have just read strike a note of arrogance: How could a human being, as imperfect as our nature makes us, dare talk to God like this? I would rather use the word boldness in relation to the verse. These are words of an honest man who knew what he was talking about to be true as far as he was concerned.
It is important to note that Kind David knew that God probes hearts and examines peoples at night. He knew that God tests even and especially those who walk with Him to find “something”. What King David knew led him to resolve that his mouth will not sin. I pray that you will desire the same.
Why his mouth? To answer the question we must know how the bible relates the heart to the mouth: Matthew 12:34, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” In other words, the mouth serves as medium for the heart. The mouth speaks out what the heart keeps (what is in the heart). Hence, anyone whose heart is evil cannot speak anything good. I believe that personal enduring changes begin with the heart.
Accordingly, the only way King David could have kept his resolution was by making sure that he does not store evil in his heart. It means that he must have been in the habit of examining his heart and testing himself daily to make sure that there was nothing. Do you know that the condition of your heart is what decides the depth of your friendship with God?
Lord grant me to examine and test my heart with your word daily in order to ensure that my mouth will not sin (hurt me), in Jesus’ name!
