Psalm 12 The Power of Words

Please read Psalm 12.

This Psalm has a powerful focus on words, using such terminology as: “utters,” “lies,” “flattering lips,” “speak,” “tongue,” “boasts,” “groan,” “says,” and “pure words.”

Our words are important. They say a lot about us (pun intended).

David describes the wicked people in this Psalm as those who ‘utter lies’ and speak with ‘flattering lips;’ those who make ‘great boasts,’ and trust in their power of speech to deliver them. Meanwhile, the poor people ‘groan’ under the oppression of the wicked.

As you think about these terms, could someone use them to describe you? Do you utter lies? Do you use flattery to get your way? Do you make great boasts about your own accomplishments rather than what the Lord has done? Or do you spend your time groaning because of what others have done against you?

David has reached a point where it feels like everyone is speaking with similar words as these and he bemoans the impression that “the godly one is gone,” and “the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.” It feels like no one is speaking the truth; no one is speaking words of encouragement unless they are for flattery; no one is boasting in the Lord, but only in their own pride; no one is taking the blame on themselves, but groaning under their oppression by outsiders. Everyone is speaking lies, flattery, and double speak.

Where are the righteous? Where are those who speak life, truth, and peace? Where are those who humble themselves and encourage others? Where are those who confess, “I’m to blame,” rather than passing the buck?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve certainly felt like David feels here. There have been times where I've felt like everyone around me has the spiritual gift of discouragement (not a real spiritual gift!), like everyone on social media wants to blame others, like everyone wants to attack each other instead of build each other up, and, in a world of fake news, like everyone is lying constantly.

But there is a respite from this madness. While it may seem like all the righteous people have left, David declares, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times over.” This means that God’s Words can be trusted.

God is not a man that He should lie; God will never lead you astray. God remains true to His promises, and will always speak the truth because He is the truth. Furthermore, God knows everything about you, warts and all, and He still loves you with a steadfast love—listen to Him and you will find the most encouraging words you will ever hear.

In a world filled with evil tongues and wicked lips, God’s words are pure. We find God’s words, of course, in the pages of Scripture. I hope that you are reading it every day so that you might be encouraged by all that God has to say.

But we also find God’s words on the lips of His saints. David bemoans the feeling that “the faithful have vanished,” but we don’t need to feel that way. God has blessed us with a church full of His representatives. Sure, none of us represent Him perfectly. But, because His Holy Spirit is living in His saints, His church is a place where we can find pure words: words of encouragement, truth, life, peace, and love.

In a world filled with such evil tongues and lips, we must not forsake the assembly of the saints. It is there that we will find the pure words of the Lord that will guard us from this evil generation.