Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
Psalm 120 was composed by David in the wilderness of Paran after Samuel died while Saul was engaged in mourning for Samuel. David felt less secure because Samuel's death had broken restraint upon Saul, the prophet was dead and the king was his enemy, and he fled to seek a place of greater security. In those desolate wilds he sang of his help coming from the Lord who made heaven and earth and preserves from all evil forevermore. The verse declares what shall be given to the false tongue and what shall be done to it, for the false tongue is the unruly member and sharp arrows of the mighty with burning coals are the treatment appointed for it. The sharp arrows depict harmful human speech compared to the arrows of a mighty warrior, including perverse, vulgar, careless, and accusing words that bruise and wound people, and words spoken blindly through prejudice while impugning others' motives are cruel and unchristlike. The sharp arrows also depict the strong words the true gospel worker must have in full supply in his quiver, confronting people in sin with the dangers of disobedience and the joys of obedience.
The hot coals of juniper are the severe treatment needed to burn the lying tongue clean when higher, holier attributes are not cultivated and a person gives way to deceiving and prevaricating. This is because God seeks to exalt the person to His high, pure, heavenly standard and to save the natural tendencies of the flesh from the seeds of moral death in the war of flesh against Spirit. The hot coals are a fitting remedy for a person who spreads lies and slanders others, whose words are like poison. A false tongue that says words it does not mean must be treated with the coals as a sharp, burning cure that destroys pride, self-esteem, self-importance and insincere speech and cleanses the mouth from evil speaking. That cleansing belongs to being thoroughly transformed in character, humbled before God, and made a true Bible Christian.
The punishment with hot coals applies to mischievous talk against brethren that tortures and persecutes with wicked speeches, strong prejudices, jealousies, suspicions, evil-surmising, backbiting, tattling and false reports. Such talk sows division, distrust, jealousy and evil-surmising, makes the heart hard and cold and distrustful of everybody, is work instigated by Satan, drives away peace, and leaves no place for the peace of Christ in the heart that thinks evil. The image of the juniper coals means Sister Lawrence's tongue needs severe correction and purging before it can be used to do good, and only good.
Psalm 120 was composed by David in the wilderness of Paran after Samuel died while Saul was engaged in mourning for Samuel. David felt less secure because Samuel's death had broken restraint upon Saul, the prophet was dead and the king was his enemy, and he fled to seek a place of greater security. In those desolate wilds he sang of his help coming from the Lord who made heaven and earth and preserves from all evil forevermore. The verse declares what shall be given to the false tongue and what shall be done to it, for the false tongue is the unruly member and sharp arrows of the mighty with burning coals are the treatment appointed for it. The sharp arrows depict harmful human speech compared to the arrows of a mighty warrior, including perverse, vulgar, careless, and accusing words that bruise and wound people, and words spoken blindly through prejudice while impugning others' motives are cruel and unchristlike. The sharp arrows also depict the strong words the true gospel worker must have in full supply in his quiver, confronting people in sin with the dangers of disobedience and the joys of obedience.
The hot coals of juniper are the severe treatment needed to burn the lying tongue clean when higher, holier attributes are not cultivated and a person gives way to deceiving and prevaricating. This is because God seeks to exalt the person to His high, pure, heavenly standard and to save the natural tendencies of the flesh from the seeds of moral death in the war of flesh against Spirit. The hot coals are a fitting remedy for a person who spreads lies and slanders others, whose words are like poison. A false tongue that says words it does not mean must be treated with the coals as a sharp, burning cure that destroys pride, self-esteem, self-importance and insincere speech and cleanses the mouth from evil speaking. That cleansing belongs to being thoroughly transformed in character, humbled before God, and made a true Bible Christian.
The punishment with hot coals applies to mischievous talk against brethren that tortures and persecutes with wicked speeches, strong prejudices, jealousies, suspicions, evil-surmising, backbiting, tattling and false reports. Such talk sows division, distrust, jealousy and evil-surmising, makes the heart hard and cold and distrustful of everybody, is work instigated by Satan, drives away peace, and leaves no place for the peace of Christ in the heart that thinks evil. The image of the juniper coals means Sister Lawrence's tongue needs severe correction and purging before it can be used to do good, and only good.