Words – Psalm 12:6-7

“The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  You shall keep them, O LORD, You shall preserve them from this generation forever.”

In this psalm, David expresses his frustration with the words of man around him.  He cries out to God for help “for the godly man ceases!  For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.” (Psalm 12:1)  When godly men disappear, their replacement is always unfortunate.  David and his men were warriors to be reckoned with, yet this psalm shows the difficulty in dealing with people who refuse to speak the truth.  David says they “speak idly” and “with flattering lips and a double heart” (Psalm 12:2).  “We can easily imagine a vicious whispering campaign against David among those who wanted to gain favor with the misguided king.  The essence of flattering lips is that they say what people want to hear. There are many such talkers today, even within the church; those who know the right answer for every occasion, but speak with no honesty or transparency of heart. They constantly speak what people hope to hear or what is assumed to be proper instead of their true thoughts, feelings, and deeds.” (David Guzik)  As to the ‘double heart’:  “The original is, ‘A heart and a heart:’ one for the church, another for the change; one for Sundays, another for working days; one for the king, another for the pope. A man without a heart is a wonder, but a man with two hearts is a monster.” (Thomas Adams, cited in Charles Spurgeon)

The psalm continues to reveal the escalating arrogance of man’s words: “the tongue that speaks proud things, who have said, “with our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”” (Psalm 12:3-4)  As we take note of the idle words of man, as well as man’s willfully false and maligning words, then the purity and honesty of God’s Word becomes more precious to us.  Or it should.  “What a contrast between the vain words of man, and the pure words of Jehovah. Man’s words are yea and nay, but the Lord’s promises are yea and amen.  The Bible has passed through the furnace of persecution, literary criticism, philosophic doubt, and scientific discovery, and has lost nothing but those human interpretations which clung to it as alloy to precious ore. The experience of saints has tried it in every conceivable manner, but not a single doctrine or promise has been consumed in the most excessive heat.” (Charles Spurgeon)

We are responsible for our words.  As a child of God, our lips are NOT our own since we are not our own.  We have surrendered to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We are His.  We may be frustrated by the double-talk of calling evil good and good evil, of the intolerant demanding tolerance, of the boasting from those who are all talk and no real accomplishment, and of those who flatter the poor while deceiving them from the truth.  These are words of man.  Whether we hear them from believers or unbelievers, they frustrate us because they are not truth.  Dear brothers and sisters, let us not waste our energy on frustration but let us delve deeper into the pure words of God.  These are words of truth, wisdom, promise, sin, grace, and of salvation.  God cannot lie.  Rest assured that His Word will be fulfilled and our Righteous King will someday reign this world.  “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow; of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)  It is precisely for these times of frustration that God wrote and preserved His Holy Word for all these years.  Just for you and just for now.  Open your Bible, let the Holy Spirit lead you to one of the promises of God that you need for this moment. 

While we are to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints,” (Jude 3), be certain that our Creator, in due time, will contend with the idle, flattering, proud and vile words of man.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Faith Overcomes the World – Psalm 11:4

“The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.”

This psalm addresses fear and faith.  Before David describes fear’s temptation to trust in his own strength, devices and plans, he first tells us of his resolve to trust in God:  “In the LORD I put my trust” (Psalm 11:1a).  Then it appears that David repeats a friend’s advice to flee for safety: “How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?” (Psalm 11:1b)  David is upright in heart and the wicked hate him for it.  The wicked hate anyone righteous, simply because living a righteous life for the glory of God is condemnation to the wicked.  Whether or not you confront their wickedness with words, the presence of righteousness is condemnation in itself.  And it is hated.

In this psalm, it appears wickedness has prevailed to such an extent that there is a breakdown of the moral fabric of society.  “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)  “The foundations, namely, of society; the pillars or supports of public order, peace, prosperity. These main pillars are four: authority, justice, policy, wealth. If these are shaken, the fabric totters. If they utterly fail, anarchy or tyranny ensues. When war threatens or assails, a weak distrusted government, an unrighteous cause, incapacity, an empty treasury, are more dangerous than any foreign foe. And though there were profound peace as regarded other nations, a nation afflicted with these four evils, one in which these main pillars break, would be on the verge of ruin. Yet underneath all these lies a deeper foundation—national character – “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34). The particular form in which public life rested on religion has never been possible for any other nation than Israel. None other has had a covenant like that of Sinai—an inspired code of laws; a perfect identity of Church and state. The relations of Church and state differ in different lands; are matter of controversy. This does not change the fact that public as much as private life—that of the nation no less than of the individual—is healthful, safe, prosperous, truly free, only as it conforms to God’s law: is just, truthful, temperate, pure, peaceable, benevolent.” (eSword)

Are the foundations of America destroyed?  Are we headed for anarchy or tyranny?  Have we seen any of these main pillars (authority, justice, policy, wealth) break?  Indeed, the news indicates a divided government, which is always weaker than a united government.  Not only is the authority of the government considered weak, but even local law enforcement has lost the respect of citizens.  As to justice, it fails when the laws do not apply to certain individuals or groups and when there are special interest groups elevated over others such that not all people are considered equal.  As to policy, or laws of the country, they are being re-written without consideration of the laws of God.   And lastly, history has shown us that a nation that prints money has lost its wealth.

So to whom or what do we run in times such as these, when the foundations are destroyed?  We turn to our God Almighty and have faith in Him.  We know that He sees all and misses nothing.  “God made us in His image to reflect who He is, and so to bring Him glory.  Since the Lord is righteous, He wants us to act in righteous ways.  And through His Spirit He gives us the power we need.” (Charles Stanley)  As fear and thoughts of defeat enter our minds, replace such thoughts with the truth of the Word of God: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5) 

It is said that a tree that is shaken (say by wind) will grow its roots deeper and stronger.  Our faith is similar.  Not that our faith is to be shaken, rather when the world around you begins to shake, that you deepen your faith.  How?  By spending time in His Holy Word.  There we find His promises to carry us through.  By spending time in prayer.  As we talk to God, and be quiet to listen, He brings things to mind that make us realize His incomparable love for us.  Also, our faith is encouraged in the presence of other Christians.  If you are not already in a truth speaking, Biblical based church, ask God to guide you with His Holy Spirit to the right church.  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)  Sometimes it may feel like it, but you are not alone.  Do not succumb to the same pity party as Elijah: “So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword.  I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” (1 Kings 19:10)  Elijah, a significant prophet and man of God, was corrected by our Holy Creator.  Not only did God Almighty never leave nor forsake him, but God informed Elijah: “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18)

Lastly, our faith is encouraged by remembering the character of our God.  He is mighty to save, He is the great provider, He is omniscient and omnipotent, He is Holy, Righteous and Just.  “Let us by faith see God on this throne, on his throne of glory, infinitely transcending the splendour and majesty of earthly princes—on his throne of government, giving law, giving motion, and giving aim, to all the creatures—on his throne of judgment, rendering to every man according to his works—and on his throne of grace, to which his people may come boldly for mercy and grace; we shall then see no reason to be discouraged by the pride and power of oppressors, or any of the afflictions that attend the righteous.  In singing this psalm we must encourage and engage ourselves to trust in God at all times, must depend upon him to protect our innocence and make us happy, must dread his frowns as worse than death and desire his favour as better than life.” (Matthew Henry)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge and delight of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Pride and Persecution – Psalm 10:2

“The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; let them be caught in the plots which they have devised."

The writer of this psalm begins by expressing frustration over what appears to be a lack of action on God’s part to protect the innocent and the poor.   The psalmist identifies pride as the source of the injustice.  “Two things are laid to their charge, pride and persecution, the former the cause of the latter. Proud men will have all about them to be of their mind, of their religion, to say as they say, to submit to their dominion, and acquiesce in their dictates; and those that either eclipse them or will not yield to them they malign and hate with an inveterate hatred. Tyranny, both in state and church, owes its origin to pride.” (Matthew Henry)

None of us experienced the persecution of the early church, or the Inquisition, or as the Protestants in their early struggles.  It is only by understanding the times of such difficult persecutions that we can understand this psalm.  Brothers and sisters, we may be near to seeing this heightened persecution again.  Pride is swelling up in so many aspects of life.  There is pride in skin color, pride in political parties, pride in employment position, pride in religion - including the religion of evolution, pride in elected politicians and non-elected politicians, gay pride, and pride in law enforcement, just to name a few.  Take a moment to consider each of these areas mentioned and then consider the truth in Matthew Henry’s observation of how pride causes persecution.  Pride elevates an individual or a group over others.  Once elevated, this puffed up group has great disdain for anyone who does not concur with or even with concede to their decrees or theories.  That disdain turns to hatred, which drives persecution – in many forms.  “By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10)

Is it any wonder that God hates pride?  Pride is the first item on the list of things God hates:  “These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”  (Proverbs 6:16-19)

As we read Psalm 10, “let every phrase in this indictment be weighed; it presents as fearful a picture of human wickedness as any contained in the Word of God. It sets before us pride, persecution, device, boasting, ridicule, denial of Providence, hardness, scorn, evil-speaking, defying and denying of God, oppression and crushing of the poor, a glorying in deeds of shame, and expected impunity therein. And what is more trying still is, that God seems to let all this go on, and keeps silence, and stands afar off, and hides himself in times of trouble.” (C. Clemance)

Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us.  He has not hidden and is not standing far off.  It only seems that way sometimes.  Scripture shows us that God cares for His people and will execute judgment against those who oppose them.  “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, ‘who will bring me down to the ground?’” (Obediah 1:3)  At the end, this psalmist gives us reassuring words that not a single sin has been missed by God.  Almighty God may delay His actions against the wicked, but it is in His wisdom and for His purposes.  We know our Creator hears our prayers because He says He hears the prayers of the humble and those with a contrite heart.  In these days of rampant pride, times may seem dark and growing darker:  remember that God will ultimately deal with the prideful wicked.  “The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations have perished out of His land. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; you will prepare their heart; you will cause Your ear to hear, to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may oppress no more.”  (Psalm 10:16-18)

“In singing this psalm and praying it over, we should have our hearts much affected with a holy indignation at the wickedness of the oppressors, a tender compassion of the miseries of the oppressed, and a pious zeal for the glory and honour of God, with a firm belief that he will, in due time, give redress to the injured and reckon with the injurious.” (Matthew Henry)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge and delight of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.