Text: Psalm 58: 1-4

1 Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation?  do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? 2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness;  ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. 4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent:  they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; 

Wednesday, 25^th September 2024

THE SERPENT IS VENOMOUS

Text: Psalm 58: 1-4

Memory verse: Psalm 58: 4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear.

Snake venom is a highly toxic saliva containing zootoxins that facilitates in demobilizing and digestion of its prey. This also provides a defence against threats. Snake’s venom is injected by unique fangs during a bite, whereas some species are also able to spit venom.

The serpent is a venomous creature full of poison. In this, do not be like the serpent. It is likened to wicked men that their poison is like the poison of a serpent. What is this poison? It is the poison of malice. Malice is the devil's picture. Lust makes men ruthless, and malice makes them devilish. Malice carries in it its own punishment. A malicious man, to hurt another, will injure himself. One who has a garden of flowers, and he poisoned the flowers of his neighbour's bees, sucking from them, might be poisoned and die. Do not be venomous like the serpent.

Malice is mental murder; you may kill a man and never touch him. I John 3:15, "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer." Malice spoils all your good works. The malicious man defiles his prayer, poisons the Holy communion cup, and eats and drinks his own damnation. I have read of one who lived in malice and asked how he could say the Lord's prayer, he answered, "I leave out those words as “as we forgive those who trespass against us." The malicious man is not likely to enjoy either this earth or heaven; not the earth, for the "meek shall inherit the earth," Matthew 5:5; nor is he likely to enjoy heaven, for God "will beautify the meek with salvation," Psalm 149:4. The malicious man is cut off both from earth and heaven.

CGDS HYMN 8; SS&S 379:

HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER?

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain

Are you washed in the blood?

In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Saviour’s side?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Will your soul be ready for His presence bright?

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;

There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

 Prayers 

1.  Lord Jesus, purge me from any poisonous tendencies in me always.

2.  LORD God Almighty, deliver me from the works of the flesh, like murder, malice and hatred in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.