«Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch over the door to my lips» (Psalm 141:3, ISV).
LORD, SET A GUARD over my mouth; keep watch over the door to my lips,» begged the psalmist, reminding us with this figure about the importance of placing sentries on each gateway to our being, just as they were placed on each point of entrance into the city. Let us take a cultural tour today through several doors of the city of Jerusalem so we may become aware of the ways we can «guard» our mouths.
The Sheep Gate. Some commentators say that it was possibly near the sheep market. This gate, located on the far east side of the city, recalls the need for Jesus to enter through it and dwell with us. If He is the Shepherd who guides us, our lips will be in good hands.
The Fish Gate was the one after the Sheep Gate It was the place through which the fishermen of Galilee entered to sell what they had caught at sea. This everyday gate for the humble fish vendors leads us to reflect on the humility we should have in recognizing that our words need to be subject to the Spirit of God.
The Old Gate. Many people believe that it was the entrance to the first city constructed there, called Salem. The Old Gate can represent the ancient paths in which the Bible calls us to walk (see Jeremiah 6:16, NIV). Let us not allow ourselves to be impressed by new ways of talking or thinking, but instead develop a way of talking that is rooted in the old truth of the Scriptures.
The Valley Gate reminds us that it is at the feet of Jesus where we need to bow down.
The Dung Gate, through which the trash of the city was taken out, inspires us to keep our spiritual house clean from sin. If our hearts are pure, our words will be also.
The Gate of the Fountain and the Water Gate connect us with the source of life that is Christ, in whom we find cleansing from sin.
The Horse Gate inspires us to prepare for the daily battle that is life through a storehouse of words that are edifying and uplifting.
The Judgement Gate warns us that Jesus is coming to judge us, giving special importance to the words we have uttered.
Let us guard the entrance doors of our being in such a way that the words that come from us are clean and edifying.