DO NOT OPEN YOUR MOUTH TO EXCUSE SIN. Reflecting on Psalm 4 this morning and I got caught up on the phrase in the KJV “stand in awe”, here’s the verse in the Amplified “Be angry [or stand in awe] and sin not; commune with your own hearts upon your beds and be silent (repent, be sorry for the things you say in your hearts). Selah!”

Psalm‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ In the NKJV it’s translated as “Be angry”, yet this doesn’t do it justice. It’s a rich word in Hebrew meaning “to tremble”. David is grieved at what other men are doing, yet he proclaims “the LORD has set apart him that is godly for Himself” and “the LORD hears his cries”, not in any self-righteous way, but in assurance. YET, he better TREMBLE in awe of the holiness and majesty of God and commune with his own heart before he even goes to sleep at night. Paul quotes this Psalm in Ephesians 4:26 that so many misquote.

What does this all mean? Before you even close your eyes at night, reflect on your day. Examine YOUR thoughts and actions, not anyone else’s and do not even open your mouth to excuse sin! Repent of wrong thoughts and motives. Look truthfully in the mirror of God’s Word. Do you want wrath for others, but mercy for yourself? How have you wronged another? Have you lied? Talked bad? Thought evil? TREMBLE and stand in awe of a Holy God! Be careful that you don’t self righteously accuse another when your heart is full of evil. #runyourrace

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