Open Wide
June 24, 2011
If you are looking to start a conversation with a groan, just mention going to the dentist. (I groaned just typing this sentence.) According to once source, up to 75% of Americans possess some form of “dentophobia” ranging from mild to severe. Even if you don’t mind a trip to the dentist (and I do mind, thank you very much) you know exactly what to expect once you are settled into the chair with that funny little napkin chained to your neck. The next words you will hear are “OPEN WIDE” and the next thing you will see will be that incredibly sharp silver scraping tool which is magnified in your mind and your line of vision as it hovers between your nose and mouth.
Are you breaking into a sweat yet?
The words OPEN WIDE offer us an instant visual, one that for the lucky 25% out there who don’t fear root canals can read without starting to shake. Having an image of the wide-open mouth when hearing those words, and a quick look through Proverbs can confirm that an opening our mouths with the wrong word can be devastating or bring healing. (For example, Proverbs 12:18)
One of the most visual Scriptures regarding the mouth being open is found in
Psalm 5:9 where the writer is acknowledging the counsel of the rebellious man.
“There is nothing reliable in what they say
Their inward part is destruction itself
Their throat is an open grave;
They flatter with their tongue.”
An open grave? Now that’s quite a visual and not at all a pleasant one!
An open grave should certainly be filled. It would be an eyesore and dangerous – someone could fall into it and get hurt. If our mouths are open graves holding destruction and flattering tongues then it stands to reason that it should be filled instead with a tongue of wisdom and truth according to God’s Word.
How does that happen? We OPEN WIDE…
“I the Lord am your God
Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” Psalm 81:10
When God fills a space, He completely satisfies it. When our mouths and hearts are filled with His goodness and grace, we are able to offer a kind word to others. And this brings me to another example of OPEN WIDE in the Bible. In Deuteronomy 15, God instructs the Israelites about the poor people in the land. Verse 8 says to “…open wide your hand to give to others…” It’s important to be generous to those less fortunate. We may be able to fill a need out of our own abundance.
Take time now to read Psalm 81. OPEN WIDE your mouth and let God fill up your soul with His presence. Then take a look around and see if you can OPEN WIDE your hand and offer His goodness to someone in your path today. (CT)