The Power of Words and the Power of the Word
Sunday's sermon from Psalm 64
How many of you remember the line, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Is this true, or just wishful thinking? The idea behind the saying was to help children build up resilience and resistance to verbal attacks. The fact is, words can certainly bring harm. Just ask any marriage counselor. They will tell you that the three biggest argument starters are money, in-laws, and communication.
And why has it been said that it takes four praise comments to counterbalance one negative comment? My goodness, the power of words.
You may have heard of a fan in Chicago who, during the Diamondbacks--White Sox game this past week, heckled second baseman Ketel Marte by saying something about his mother, who died in a car accident in 2017. The announcers noticed him breaking down near the pitcher's mound during a pitching change in the 7th inning. Don’t say that words will never hurt.
As we move into Psalm 64, the first two verses begin in the typical manner of laments, asking God to hear him, preserve him, and hide him. It’s in verse 3 that we see the power of words—there’s no denying that. Yet, we will also see the power of the Word of God, which carries more power than any word of man. We know the power of words—do we see the power of God’s Word and the power of prayer to call on Him for help?