Devotion for Today: 07 August 2007 Devotion for Today "Set a Guard" Psalm 141

05 August 2007 Devotion for Today "Set a Guard"  Psalm 141

Robin and I  returned from a pastor and wife retreat sponsored by

European Baptist Convention to Rome in March, 2001..  We were

blessed to have one of my former seminary professors in New Testament,

Dr. Bruce Corley, to be our key speaker and tell us about the journeys

of the apostle Paul where he landed at Puteoli, journeying overland

to the city of Rome.  The first of our tours was a three hour bus

ride to Puteoli and Pompeii where we visited an ancient coliseum

where many early Christians died as martyrs for their faith.  Upon our

arrival at Pompeii we learned that the ruins of the city that had been

destroyed in the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the AD 70's was closed

for the afternoon.  However, Robin and I did manage to find a souvenir

shop open and bought a guide book for the attraction.  In it, I found

a photograph of what is believed to be a Roman soldier standing at

attention.  He had been one of the victims of the Vesuvius eruption

who had probably died of asphyxiation.  The ashes that rained down upon

the city covered everything and everyone there, and when the volcanic

ash hardened in the moisture it hardened like concrete- leaving the

likeness of victims perfectly preserved.  This Roman soldier stayed at

his post while other citizens fled the city.  He knew he must stay

until properly relieved.  The change of the guard never came, and so

there he stood and stands to this day.

I thought about this Roman sentinel when I read the Psalm for the

devotional this morning.  In Psalm 141, David says, "Set a guard,

O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.  Do not

incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men

who practice iniquity."  (vv. 3-4).  This guard whom David speaks is

very important.  The Lord places Him there in the presence of the

Holy Spirit. Like the Roman soldier in Pompeii,  He serves as a

reminder of the authority of the reign of Jesus Christ in our lives.

He testifies of the strength, protection and security of the One who

has saved us, and stands ready to fight any intruder of malice or

perpetrator of harm and disorder which threatens us.  David says that

the gate through which most of this harm and disorder threatens is

that of the mouth and lips, and this is where he requests of the Lord

to send reinforcements.  Without that guard there, we could allow all

manner of evil that is in our heart to come flying through our mouths

to harm us and everyone standing in our path.  That guard keeps us

from saying things that we ought not to say, and fleeting thoughts of

evil that have not yet been suppressed to come to the surface.

Some have lax security over this region of the body, and it shows. When

this guard is not posted, however, it reflects upon the weakness of the

entire state.  Let this never be said of us.  May the Holy Spirit

continually watch vigilantly over our lips so that the only things

allowed to pass are those things which will bless and encourage others.

Have a blessed day.

(05 March 2001)

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@embarqmail.com

jcrussell@liberty.edu

Devotion for Today