Elul Day 14 - Murmuring or Praise
As humans, it is easy to murmur — we naturally find things that are imperfect, difficult, or not to our liking. The Children of Israel murmured on more than one occasion. How did that work for them?
Exodus 16:2-3
Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, 'Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.'
Later, the spies returned with a bad report about the giants in the land. The people believed their report — and they all died in the wilderness.
Words of murmuring and complaint brought literal death.
But we are to be a people of praise to our God. Murmuring brings death. Praise brings life.
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Proverbs 18:21a
Life and death are in the power of the tongue...
Our words are serious. They literally create. Words change atmospheres!
We are created in the image of God — and God spoke, and the world was created.
We can look out the window and see the power of the spoken word.
May our words be of praise and thanksgiving.
May they create life in all who hear them.
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth!
