Psalms 39:1
I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
David resolved to watch his conduct closely and hold his mouth as with a bridle so that he would not sin by speech, even refusing to answer back when accused and afflicted because he accepted the trial as permitted by the Lord. That guard is most needed in the presence of the wicked, of enemies and of those who do not understand, under provocation and hostility, and whenever careless words would harm others. Keeping sinful thoughts unspoken defeats the tempter, for he cannot read the mind but watches words and actions to shape his snares, and when expression is denied his trap is broken and the presence of Jesus is retained. The bridle therefore closes the lips against evil reports and faultfinding, against gossip and careless talk, against murmuring at God's dealings, and against sarcasm, censure and strife. Kept in this way, the mouth is opened instead for wise, encouraging and spiritual speech, and calm endurance under provocation becomes a powerful witness that drives away darkness and fills the heart with light, hope and love.
Resolve and Its Setting
The verse records a deliberate resolve to pay attention to one's ways and to keep the mouth as if held with a bridle, so as not to sin with the tongue. In adversity and under accusation this meant holding back from speaking against those who cursed, accepting that the Lord had permitted the trial. Taking heed is training of the self, exercising discretion and holding back harmful words before they are spoken. It includes control of spirit and confession when wrong words and actions have occurred. Tempting thoughts cannot always be hindered, but the mouth can be bridled so that they are not uttered.
"While the wicked is before me" requires restraint especially when the wicked are present. It requires restraint in the presence of enemies and of those who do not understand, when facing provocation, hostility, and trying positions, and when associating with others who may be adversely affected by what is said. This includes keeping silent rather than answering fretting and complaints.
The bridle defeats Satan because he is not permitted to read thoughts but keenly observes words and actions and adapts his temptations accordingly. When sinful thoughts and feelings are repressed and given no expression in words or acts, he does not know how to prepare his temptations to meet the case. Keeping this guard breaks his snare, causes clouds of darkness to disappear, and retains the sweet presence of Jesus. When talkers gather he is present to excite the mind, so unguarded talk opens a door to him and separates the soul from God.
The tongue must be sanctified by heart work, conversion, and transforming by the renewing of the mind. Guard must be kept over thoughts as well as words. This guard is required to stand amid the perils of the last days, when Satan is making determined efforts to lead into sin and turn minds from God's Word.
Speech the Bridle Restains
The bridle forbids speaking evil of anyone, shutting the lips against suspicion, criticism, and evil reports. It bars carrying unfavorable reports, dissecting character, dwelling on the faults, peculiarities, infirmities, and defects of others. Defects noticed in others are to become instruction for one's own conduct rather than grounds for criticism. Attention is to be turned away from the errors of others to Jesus.
Much talking itself is sinful and must be avoided, especially gossip and tale-bearing, revealing of secrets, and dissecting of character. Hinting and insinuating, exaggeration, misstatement, and careless random speech are likewise shut out as censurable, unprofitable, and positively sinful, tending only to evil. The call is to speak less, to keep personal troubles and another person's faults private, and to stop evil talk in order to speak only in a purposeful, helpful way.
Murmuring or complaining at providence is forbidden, along with complaints and discouraging words that increase another's perplexity. Words that cause unhappiness, unbelief, or disturbance must be held back, with encouragement spoken instead. The lips are to be held closed as with bit and bridle especially in times of darkness and discouragement when unbelief is in the heart. Unbelief is the greatest sin, and to give it expression by the tongue exerts an injurious influence over others and places the speaker upon the enemy's ground.
A combative spirit is forbidden, closing hearts and ears to truth, so sarcastic things are not to be spoken and no one is to be censured or condemned. Even when brought into trying positions where human nature longs to break forth, there is to be stillness without retaliation. Discretion and restraint are required before harmful words are spoken, especially when speech could stir up strife, since uncontrolled talk also hinders sincere prayer. When believers come together, objections over limited ideas and petty differences are not to be voiced by those who stand apart from their brethren, for such a course causes darkness, doubt, and alienation.
Speech the Bridle Releases
The bridle does not keep the lips forever closed, for they are to be opened with wisdom to defend the truth, with careful and purposeful words that encourage rather than discourage, and with conversation upon spiritual and divine things for the improvement of mind and heart. Such speech refuses to speak evil of anyone, turns attention from the errors of others to Jesus, directs words to Him rather than to complaints, keeps personal troubles and another person's faults private, and speaks less and only in a helpful way. When defects in others are noticed they are to be used as instruction for one's own conduct rather than as grounds for criticism. Words of this kind have an influence for good and leave pleasant satisfaction with no after regrets.
When correction is needed it is to be frank and honest yet given in a reasonable, Christian spirit, speaking carefully and purposefully rather than spreading suspicion, criticism, or evil reports. When believers come together they are not to voice objections over limited ideas and petty differences, but to lose sight of self, forget their own notions and prejudices, and interest themselves in the salvation of souls. For this they are to seek the Lord in earnest prayer for His Holy Spirit to rest upon them and give them a burden for souls.
Calm speech and upright conduct under provocation demonstrate Christian character and reveal a power that those who provoke may not possess, bearing a strong witness for God. A consistent life, long forbearance, and a spirit unruffled under provocation is always the most conclusive argument and the most solemn appeal, with the life arguing for Jesus while the lips speak with wisdom. By learning from the defects of others without repeating them, and by restraining the tongue from words that cause unhappiness, unbelief, or disturbance even when those who do not understand are present, believers become missionaries through careful speech.
Keeping this guard brings deliverance, for then darkness flees away and light and hope come into the soul, self-esteem vanishes, the heart becomes teachable as a child, stubbornness melts away in contemplation of the love of God, sorrow is banished, cheerfulness takes its place, and the infinite love and goodness of God becomes the theme of testimony. The lips must be held closed as with bit and bridle in times of darkness and discouragement when unbelief is in the heart, since unbelief is the greatest sin and giving it expression injures others and places the speaker upon the enemy's ground. Living faith must be exercised most at the very time it is hardest and feeling is against praying in faith, because Satan then tries hardest to beat the soul back from God and keep it away from the Source of strength. Guarding the tongue with discretion and restraint, especially when speech could stir up strife, is needful because uncontrolled talk also hinders sincere prayer.