Psalm 72:9
screaming at the sky like a small bird
They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth. (Psalm 72:9 DR)
Of all the things that get us into trouble, our mouths are near the top of the list. Actions often take some deliberate effort to put into effect, but we speak all the time without thinking. In fact, we often substitute words for actions and end up in just as much ruin for the trouble. St. James thus profoundly remarks:
For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body. (James 3:2 DR)
There is a certain amount of hyperbole for effect here, for one could conceivably sin and offend without ever saying another word. But the point is the relative difficulty in taming the tongue; it is well-nigh impossible. Thus, if you can exert the self-discipline to never offend with what you say, then bringing the rest of one’s body and actions into submission is relatively easy.
St. James perhaps has the broad themes of this Psalm in the background, as the Psalmist speaks of how the wicked are shameless in their speech. They do not stop at profanity and speaking of things they do not know or understand. rather, the openly blaspheme. these are not words whispered in the dark or thoughts concealed in the recesses of the mind; these are spoken for the express purpose of setting oneself against heaven, and it is the logical culmination of the wickedness inventoried in the previous verses.
Yet again it must be remarked that this stage of iniquity is occasioned by the prosperity of the wicked. As it ascends (as it were) to this height and grievousness, so proportionately does the vexation of the Psalmist increase, for their wickedness seems to go unpunished. They do not fear God and set their mouth against heaven, but neither do they fear man, as their tongues “pass through the earth.” Their prosperity and wealth becomes a surety against any reprisal, and thus they defame and ridicule the righteous without fear of retribution.
St. James warns against using the tongue in this way, for while wealth and prosperity may give the impression of the approval of one’s words, they may originate from an infernal source:
But if you have bitter zeal, and there be contentions in your hearts; glory not, and be not liars against the truth. For this is not wisdom, descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and contention is, there is inconstancy, and every evil work. (James 3:14-16 DR)
We must judge our words by the fruit they produce and the purpose for which they issue forth. The wicked use their tongues as a weapon to acquire illicit gain and to set themselves as exalted on the earth, but for the righteous there must be humility:
Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew, by a good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom…
But the wisdom, that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation. And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace. (James 3:13,17-18 DR)
The wicked may have great prosperity, but the price of it is their soul and the lack of peace. Since they perceive their prosperity as issuing forth from their own efforts, they must always strive to defend it. And even if they acquire great gain, it comes to take possession of them so that they are compelled to acquire more, regardless of whether they actually want it or whether it will make them happy. The fire of the tongue that St. James elsewhere warns about is kindled by hell, and the iniquitous use of the tongue is a foretaste of eternal destitution:
From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscences, which war in your members? You covet, and have not: you kill, and envy, and can not obtain. You contend and war, and you have not, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not; because you ask amiss: that you may consume it on your concupiscences. Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God. (James 4:1-4 DR)
It is only in humility that the righteous can escape from this infernal cycle. Pride which sets itself and its tongue against heaven is an obstacle to grace, engaging in the same sin as the devil and his angels. But humility becomes a conduit to God’s grace, forming the condition where we can cooperate with His transforming power.
Thus we should not be vexed at the tongues of the wicked but take them as a warning which compels us to humble ourselves before God, lest we set ourselves up against heaven:
But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Be subject therefore to God, but resist the devil, and he will fly from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners: and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into sorrow. Be humbled in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:6-10 DR)
This animation was inspired by the excellent game Wingspan which my wife and I enjoy playing. It deals with lots of birds, and the digital version is excellently produced and a great way to relax and wind down.
I was thinking about birds as I was preparing this animation, especially how some of them have very obnoxious sounding calls. I then pictured in my mind this little bird hopping around and screaming at the sky in a fruitless effort to change anything, puffed up by the shrillness of its cry.
I found a nice image of a little bird and cut it out in Photoshop, isolating the feet from the body so I could animate them independently. I brought all the layers into After Effects and precomped them. next I rigged up the bird with some Puppet pins and attached them to Nulls with PuppetTools 3 (although I might be using another tool soon- more on that later).
I mostly animated the beak squawking, which I found kind of amusing. I made it go pretty fast, since birds tend to have fairly quick movements. I then animated the hopping and animated the feet in sync. I then offset the animations a tad just to give it a bit more natural look.
I finally added in some magazine letter cutout and some tape textures for character and added in the text.
This one was fun to make and I liked how it turned out.
Enjoy.
They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
(Psalm 72:9 DR)
View a higher quality version of this gif here: