Psalm 12

Psalm 12

The Word

I.                    The most import word for life is the Word of God, so we must discern deceptive words (Vv. 1-4)

a.       David feels like the number of other faithful and godly minded people in the world around him is steadily shrinking. It’s important to understand that he’s not just saying that the amount of people who think exactly like him, or agree with everything he says and likes, is shrinking. He’s lamenting the apparent disappearance of others who truly seek after God, His glory, and His will for His creation and their lives. So David lifts up the most appropriate, heart revealing, and heart healing prayer possible; “Help, Lord”. He doesn’t know exactly what to do or where to turn, he feels powerless and alone, so he acknowledges his weakness and simply cries out to God to help Him. David felt as though he was increasingly surrounded by those who only sought to serve themselves. These people “speak falsehood” or lie to one another, which in Hebrew carries the idea of “emptiness”, “empty talk”, or “vanity”. In other words David says that even though the people around him are constantly speaking words to one another, they are completely void of substance or value. Further, they speak with “flattering lips” or “smooth talk”. Flattery is not communication or encouragement, it’s manipulation, which is motivated by corruption and plays on the ego of others and even ourselves. They also speak with “ a double heart”, which is to say that they, “speak out of both sides of their mouths”. They manipulate words to make them mean what they want them to in order to deceive and get what they want. Lastly, it should be no surprise that these people boast pridefully. They say that their words will accomplish what they want, because they’ll say whatever they need to get their way. They can do that because they have a right to say whatever they want. Afterall, no one has authority over them, they’re not accountable to anyone. Words are ultimately a fruit of our hearts and are supported or denied by our actions. These people speak so as to obtain their desires for the moment and manipulate words in order to attempt to avoid accountability. Those who also desire to avoid accountability and obtain the quick and easy way eagerly listen to them. This will be the primary means the Antichrist uses to speak his way into ruling the world. And many “antichrists” misuse the gift of words and communication which God has given us. Our words should glorify Him, help us enjoy a fruitful relationship with Him, and help us live purposefully, peacefully, and joyfully in this life. Theirs is an empty existence spent darting from one shadow to the next as they avoid the light, but they’ll come face to face with the Lord. To live fully in this life, we must discern deceptive words in others and in ourselves. (Vv. 1-4; 1 Kings 18:22; 19:19, 18; Isa. 57:1; Jer. 5:1; Dan. 7:19-27; Micah 7:1-7; Ps. 5:9; 34:13-14; 55:21; 78:34-37; 116:1; 141:3; Prov. 26:28; 28:23; 29:5; Eccl. 10:5-7; Matt. 12:33-37; Rom. 16:17-18;  1 Tim. 1:3-7; 2 Tim. 4:16; Jas. 1:21-27; 2 Pet. 2:17-22; 1 John 2:18-29; Jude 10-11, 16; Rev. 13:1-9)

II.                 The most import word for life is the Word of God, so we must trust and live out the Word of God (Vv. 5-8)

a.   God is faithful to see our affliction and need, and hear our groaning. And He’s faithful to act on the behalf of His afflicted who seek to glorify Him in the world and set us on solid ground. The words of the world are worthless, empty, and deceiving, but God’s Word is completely and utterly pure, truthful, living, active, and profitable in all circumstances. His Word alone has stood the test of time, is life-giving, unchanging, and renewing. Today, God’s Word is either largely rejected, or His sovereign power is rejected by accepting only the portions of His Word which affirm the human heart and worldly desires while throwing the rest out. The all sovereign and transcendent Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Judge of the universe, who grants us the gift of words and communication, must certainly be able to inspire and sustain His life-giving Word. His answer to our dilemmas in life are contained in His inerrant self-revelation of Himself, and most clearly seen in His most perfect and complete revelation, Jesus Christ. God answers David’s prayer for help by reassuring and renewing him in His Word and promises. In the end the wicked are still strutting about and exalting worthless words among one another, all the while living just a worthlessly. David’s encouragement must be ours as well. No matter how the world feels like it’s pressing in, or how few we feel in numbers. The secret to finding sustaining light and purpose in this world is turning to God’s Word, standing firmly on it, and sharing it in word and deed. (Vv. 5-8; Numb. 10:35; Ps. 119; 14, 72, 127, 162; Isa. 55:6-13; Jer. 1:12; Matt. 5:13-16; 7:24-27; John 1:1-5, 14-18; 5:37-44; 17:17; 1 Cor. 2:1-16; 1 Thess. 2:1-6; 2 Tim. 2:1-2; 3:12-17;  Heb. 1:1-3; 4:12-13; 1 John 1:1-4)