The Inward Mind


Psalm 64
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
2Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers,
3who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,
4shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
5They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?”
6They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep [exceedingly mysterious – cunning].
7But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly.
8They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads.
9Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what He has done.
10Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

We are surrounded by words; in the news, on social media, from our friends, inside of our own minds. One of my daughters used to review her day after she went to bed each night with a barrage of words whispered into the darkness. I didn’t actually listen to the review I just knew it was going on. The more stress she was experiencing (as stressful as a small child’s life can be) the longer it would take. Her “inward mind” was coming out.

As I read through this psalm, I was overwhelmed by David’s attention to the power of words spoken by people who are plotting evil. We’ve all seen it happen. Spend any time in the halls of a junior high or middle school and you will witness words and plots flying through the air. Listen to the news for 10 minutes and the words of politicians who are plotting their rise to power will astound (or perhaps horrify). And then there is that one line in verse 6 that brings it all into sharp focus even for the quiet people; “For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.” Even if you are one of those exceedingly rare people who can keep your mouth shut, your own mind will betray you to God.

Many of the Psalms, a few Proverbs, the book of James, and the words of Jesus all warn against the possibly negative power of our words. Who among us has not uttered a few words (or perhaps several) only to wish them back in our mouth? (And here the chorus of "Chief of sinners, though I be, Jesus blood was shed for me" runs through my mind again!) David aptly points out that those words can be the birth of evil plots that when carried out will be damaging and dangerous.

What this psalm manages to point out is that inside of all of us is a black heart that is compelled by sin. Our mouths are only the gateway of that evil. None of us is exempt. Even if you can keep your mouth shut, your mind is open to the Lord and His knowledge of your sin is complete. But Jesus, the Son of David, knew all of this about us. He was painfully aware of our “inward minds” as the Gospels tell us over and over that Jesus, “knowing what they were thinking” responds not to our words, but to our hearts. He addressed that sinfulness by surrendering His heartbeat on the cross of Calvary and covering our black hearts with His own blood. Now we too can join with David in the last two verses of this psalm and say with him, "Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what He has done. Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him! Let all the upright in heart exult!"

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