2 Samuel 23:2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me;
    his word was on my tongue.

From one perspective, this seems like a statement of incredible conceit. From another perspective, actively voiced by a TV personality about someone else not long ago, it seems like evidence of mental disorder. Both of those attitudes are actively promoted by the devil, because he doesn’t want people believing that God can and does speak through people, that He is actively concerned with our daily affairs to the point of doing such a thing. However, David had built up a track record with his Psalms, as is acknowledged in the verse before this. It would be impossible to number all the people who have heard from their Creator through David’s words, so this verse is a simple statement of fact. That said, not every word that came from David’s mouth was directly from God, nor can anyone on earth today make that claim. Jesus was the only person to live for whom that may have been true, but I would think that even for Him, many words were simply inconsequential. However, every word He spoke was spoken in love, and was in no way a violation of God’s character. God does call individuals to be His mouthpieces, so to speak, and He speaks through all of His children to some extent, but our response, any time we realize He is using us that way, is to be humble gratitude and not pride. Another angle to that is that any time God speaks through us, we must pay attention to it ourselves, and never assume that the message is just for “the other guy.” Every honest preacher, much less prophet, will acknowledge that their fulfillment of the truth they speak is imperfect. That isn’t necessarily hypocrisy, but rather the result of a perfect God speaking through an imperfect vessel. That’s why we must all walk in humility, particularly when God speaks through us.

I have become dependent on God speaking to me, and I seek to allow Him to speak through me whenever and however He chooses. That said, I get in the way all too often. My wife says that I tend to come across as angry, and I have certainly failed to praise people as much as I should have. Awareness that God does speak through me at times fills me with joy and a desire for it to happen more consistently, but I also need to be careful that my “inconsequential” words don’t close people’s ears to what God actually is speaking to them. I’m not right all the time, nor do I always hear correctly what God is saying. Humility is without question essential. I am at times in awe of things God has said through me, lyrics He has had me write, but I am never to let that puff me up, but rather inspire me to be more available to Him.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder on my birthday. You have indeed made me to be a wordsmith. May every word that comes from my mouth or my fingers be what You desire to be expressed, for the blessing of my hearers and readers and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!