Psalm 28

1 To you I call, O LORD my Rock;
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.

2 Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.

3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.

4 Repay them for their deeds
and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
and bring back upon them what they deserve.

5 Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD
and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
and never build them up again.

6 Praise be to the LORD,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever.

From the psalm, we are reminded of a category of people that God really dislikes - those "who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their heart" (verse 3).

While we may appear to be speaking nicely and peacefully with the people around us, are there times that we harbor ill-intentions? Perhaps it can be a feeling that I want to out-do you. Or maybe feelings of jealousy and envy.

Do we put on masks when we talk to people? Are we sincere in our words? Are we truthful when we speak?



More importantly, are our conversations consistent with our Christian faith?

This year, one of the church's focus is INTEGRATION. Are our lives (including words) integrated with our faith? If we truly believe in Jesus, let our words be always truthful.

Proverbs 12:22 " The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful."


I'm definitely guilty. There had been so many times that the words that I used to speak to people didn't agree with what my heart was feeling. Today, my prayer to God is that I will say what I mean and mean what I say.


Things to ponder
1. How truthful are you in terms of your conversations with others? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 mean most truthful!).
2. Give one or two examples of situations whereby you weren't truthful in your conversations.
3. Pray and ask God for forgiveness. Pray also that you will change and say what you mean and mean what you say.

Click here for Pastor YC's reflection on Psalm 28