Book of Psalms Psalm 12

Transcription

1 God s Words in an Ungodly World Book of Psalms Psalm 12 Thank God, this world is not our home. The world is full of danger, deception, and disappointment. Believers are the minority. Not long ago, Christians were using the phrase, Moral Majority, but now we are actually a moral minority. Jesus said that most people are on the broad road that leads to destruction, and few are on the narrow road to Heaven. Much like the trend in our own nation, David knew of a time in Israel s history when godly people outnumbered the ungodly, but at the time he wrote Psalm 12, that situation had changed dramatically and the godly were declining. It was, and still is, a very troubling condition. This psalm has been described as a hearing test. David has something to say about the words of men and the words of God. 1. The pitiful words of David (vs. 1) A. His desperate cry David asks God to help him ( help means save). We find many prayers for help in the book of Psalms. Psalms 38:22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 60:11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Psalms 109:26 Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy: Psalms 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalms 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. B. His disappointing complaint In Psalm 11, David described the foundations of society crumbling. In Psalm 12, he describes the faithful as vanishing. The godly remnant was getting smaller and smaller, and David was feeling more and more alone. David saw that he was in a dwindling minority. The godly and the faithful were falling away. What happened to those who used to live for the Lord? Jesus predicted the apostasy of the last days. Jesus predicted this would happen. Matthew 24: And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Paul also warned Timothy of apostasy. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. Things are not going to get better, only worse. 2. The proud words of men (vs. 2-4) David concluded that godliness was on the decline because of the way people spoke. David described the things that people were saying. We live in an age of communication. We can read, talk, write, and now we , text, Facebook, and Twitter. We need to be able to discern what is good and what is bad, what is true and what is false. A. They were speaking vain (lying) words This describes the content of what they said. Jeremiah 9:8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.

2 What the Bible teaches about the evil of lying: 1) Lying is an inborn trait of humanity. Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. 2) Lying reveals a person s character. Proverbs 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. 3) Lying cannot keep believers from loving and living the truth. Psalms 119:69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 4) Lying has no place in a believer s life. Proverbs 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me. 5) Lying is a sin to avoid through prayer. Psalms 120:2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 6) Lying is an abomination to God. Proverbs 6: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 7) Lying will be punished by God. Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. 8) Lying will be stopped by God. Psalms 63:11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. 9) Lying will be silenced by God. Psalms 31:18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 10) Lying will be short-lived. Proverbs 12:19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. 11) Lying will ultimately be punished in the lake of fire. Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 12) Lying leads to more sin when it is tolerated. Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. 13) Lying results in death. Proverbs 21:6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. B. They were speaking flattering (deceptive) words This describes the purpose of what they said. The word flattering comes from a Hebrew word that means smooth. They were smooth-talking others for their advantage.

3 What the Bible teaches about the evil of flattery: 1) Flattery is dangerous because it is deceptive. Proverbs 29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. 2) Flattery is a trait of the ungodly. Psalms 36:1-3 1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. 3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. 3) Flattery is a tool of sexual seduction. Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 4) Flattery is related to gossip. Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. 5) Flattery is a weapon used by ungodly people. Psalms 5:8-9 8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 6) Flattery is not appropriate for Christians. 1 Thessalonians 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness. 7) Flattery is very destructive. Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. 8) Flattery is a powerful force for evil. The Bible condemns all forms of deception and lying. Satan is the source of all lies. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Never is a person more like the devil than when he lies. On the other hand, never is a person more like Jesus than when he speaks the truth. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Lying must be put away from every believer. Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. C. They were speaking proud words They made arrogant statements. David gives an example in verse 4. They said what they wanted and defied anyone to stop them, even God. They were sure no one could restrain or control them. Psalms 73:8-9 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Some people think that free speech gives them a right to say anything they want. They may be free to say it, but God is free to stop it, and He will stop it. David is confident that the Lord will judge them for their lying, flattering, and arrogant words. He will cut them off. 3. The pure words of the Lord (vs. 5-6) Man has spoken. Now God speaks. God s words are pure, proven, and preserving. You can depend on what He says. A. The protection of God s words (vs. 5) God speaks up on behalf of the oppressed and needy, the very ones who are the object of the world s evil mouths. He speaks in defense

4 of those who either can t or won t speak up for themselves. God says He will keep them safe from the enemy. God will not forsake His faithful people. Many times God says I will in the Psalms. As elsewhere in the Bible, when God says He will do something, you can count on it. Look at what this meant to David in verses 7-8. He is confident of God s keeping power in spite of being surrounded by wicked people. B. The perfection of God s words (vs. 6) David presents a powerful contrast between the perverted words of ungodly men and the pure words of God. Men deceive with their words, but God cannot deceive. His words have no trace of impurity. His words are totally reliable. Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Psalms 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. Every promise is pure. Every command is pure. Every prophecy is pure.

5 God s Words in an Ungodly World Book of Psalms Psalm 12 Much like the trend in our own nation, David knew of a time in Israel s history when godly people outnumbered the ungodly, but at the time he wrote Psalm 12, that situation had changed dramatically and the godly were declining. It was, and still is, a very troubling condition. This psalm has been described as a hearing test. David has something to say about the words of men and the words of God. 1. of David (vs. 1) A. David asks God to help him ( help means save). We find many prayers for help in the book of Psalms. Psalms 38:22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 60:11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Psalms 109:26 Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy: Psalms 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalms 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. B. In Psalm 11, David described the foundations of society crumbling. In Psalm 12, he describes the faithful as vanishing. What happened to those who used to live for the Lord? Jesus predicted the apostasy of the last days. Jesus predicted this would happen. Matthew 24: And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Paul also warned Timothy of apostasy. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. Things are not going to get better, only worse. 2. of men (vs. 2-4) David concluded that godliness was on the decline because of the way people spoke. A. They were speaking Jeremiah 9:8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. What the Bible teaches about the evil of lying: 1) Lying is. Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. 2) Lying reveals. Proverbs 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

6 3) Lying cannot keep believers from. Psalms 119:69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 4) Lying has. Proverbs 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me. 5) Lying is. Psalms 120:2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 6) Lying is. Proverbs 6: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 7) Lying will be. Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. 8) Lying will be. Psalms 63:11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. 9) Lying will be. Psalms 31:18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 10) Lying will be. Proverbs 12:19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. 11) Lying will ultimately be. Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 12) Lying leads to. Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. 13) Lying results. Proverbs 21:6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. B. They were speaking The word flattering comes from a Hebrew word that means smooth. What the Bible teaches about the evil of flattery: 1) Flattery is dangerous because. Proverbs 29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

7 2) Flattery is. Psalms 36:1-3 1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. 3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. 3) Flattery is a tool of. Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 4) Flattery is related to. Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. 5) Flattery is a weapon. Psalms 5:8-9 8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 6) Flattery is. 1 Thessalonians 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness. 7) Flattery is. Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. 8) Flattery is. The Bible condemns all forms of deception and lying. Satan is the source of all lies. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. C. They were speaking They made arrogant statements. David gives an example in verse 4. They said what they wanted and defied anyone to stop them, even God. They were sure no one could restrain or control them. Psalms 73:8-9 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 3. of the Lord (vs. 5-6) Man has spoken. Now God speaks. God s words are pure, proven, and preserving. You can depend on what He says. A. of God s words (vs. 5) God speaks up on behalf of the oppressed and needy, the very ones who are the object of the world s evil mouths. B. of God s words (vs. 6) David presents a powerful contrast between the perverted words of ungodly men and the pure words of God. Men deceive with their words, but God cannot deceive.