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The Topic of Open Heavens for 16th April 2023 Is “Destiny Destroyers: Talkativeness”
MEMORIZE: Proverbs 21:23
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
READ: 2 Samuel 1:1-16
Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2 on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes [a]torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?”
So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4 Then David said to him, “How did the matter go? Please tell me.”
And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”
5 So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6 Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for [b]anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ 10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?”
And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”
14 So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. 16 So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ”
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY
If you cannot control your tongue, it is only a matter of time before you talk yourself into destruction. Hidden behind the need to always talk is the need to be noticed – the need to get everyone’s attention, and that alone is enough to destroy anyone. In today’s text, we read about the young man who just wanted to get unnecessary attention. He formulated a story that he thought would impress David, telling him that he had killed Saul, not knowing that his quest for attention would be his undoing.
2 Samuel 1:16 says: And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’s anointed. Believe me honestly, the less you talk, the better for you, because everything you are saying is being recorded and will be played back on the day of judgment. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 12:36,“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
I was at a meeting with some big men of God and there was one fellow there who talked and talked to such an extent that I said, “Sir, you think you know more than every one of us? If you would just keep quiet, you might learn something.” Wise people listen more than they speak because they know that the more they understand, the better the value of what they say.
James 1:19 says that you must be quick to hear and slow to speak. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19
Controlling your tongue is a major key to living holy. May your tongue not take you to hell, in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point: Father, please give me the grace to control my tongue at all times,in Jesus’name.
Bible in one year: 1 Kings 19-20
Hymn 30 When We Walk With The Lord
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