Digging Deeper

I have to admit, I had not read this following scripture for awhile. I have it marked in the margin of my Bible as 2-1-04. This was when I was going through a particularly difficult time. I like to date a scripture when the Holy Spirit makes a point of showing it to me. Let's read this and then look to see what we can "mine" from it.

NAS
Psalm 12:1-8

1. Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
2. They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
3. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaks great things;
4. Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"
5. "Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he longs."
6. The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
7. Thou, O LORD, wilt keep them; Thou wilt preserve him from this generation forever
8. The wicked strut about on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
 
 

   
Yesterday's post about our tongues is just scratching the surface for our knowledge and responsibility for the things that we "say". Leave it to God to not let me off the hook, but He causes me to "dig" deeper; to get down to the nitty gritty of things. I'm going to take this verse by verse, because I know there's something important here for all of us.
 
NIV
1."the godly are no more and the faithful have vanished."  Seems like a description of the nightly news, when all we hear about are the "...bad and the ugly". Where are the godly men and women, doing things for the Lord? They are passed over and sometimes beaten down by those whose mouths seem to be loudest. Television and radio are prime examples of this. Ungodly men and women spouting off about their latest immoral adventure or idea. Yuk.
 
2."Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception." OK, this one is getting serious: 

"Oh, you look fabulous today! Love that new outfit!
Hi, how are you? Oh fine, just fine.
We're doing great!
New car, new furniture!
Hey, yeah, the kids are good, everything's great!
Kids got straight A's and...yeah, we're great!
Got a promotion at work!
Yeah, Big, big salary now!
New Boat in the spring!
How about you? Same with you?
Great! See ya!"

Superficial communication. Now I know we don't have to "bare our souls" to the next door neighbors, but I sure wish there was more genuine interest in each other, and how they are doing.
And Flattery... I have been reminded of this lately. Not to play favorites and try to "ingratiate myself" with those who are made "more worthy" in the world's eyes. Say what is truth, and if someone is not interested in me, then don't worry. Leave it, move on. Don't waste my time with bowing and scraping.
 
3. "May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue." Flattery and boasting. Here's another big one. Gee, I really don't want to be there...ever. But I do have to admit, that after Christmas with "showing this and that of my house and decor" I got a little tired of myself. Know what I mean? Do you ever get tired of "yourself"? Boy, I do. Sometimes I'm just needing to "give it a rest". I think I've been there since Christmas.
 
4."We triumph with our tongues, we own our lips! Who is our master?" This speaks to me about saying exactly whatever I want to say. The attitude that, "Hey, I'll do and say whatever I darn well please, because I've earned that right! No one better tell me how to act or speak! Watch out! I'm on a rampage here!" (oh I'm really cringing, now) How many times have I been guilty of that one? As our younger daughter used to love to say, especially to her older sister "You're not the boss of me!"
 
5."Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the Lord. I will protect them from those that malign them. Thank you, God, that you hear and see, and come to our defense! We need to remember this. That when we are beaten down and feeling oppressed, God sees and knows and hears our cries. He will move on our behalf if we ask, and then put it in His capable hands.
 
6. And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay purified seven times. We all hear from the Lord, He speaks to us all. How many times have I heard the Lord speak to my heart a promise or a "word", and then as time goes by and it hasn't "manifested" yet, do I begin to doubt and lose hope? It's so easy, and especially when everyone else is saying something different. When everything and everyone contradicts what the Lord is saying, it's really easy, to set that "word" aside and question it, or even forget it. But He is faithful to His Word. He is flawless. His words are pure, unlike man.
 
7.O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever. Trust Him and believe this. People can say malicious things about us, but God truly will protect us from them.
 
8. The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men. So then, there we have it. It's up to us to not praise and deify those ungodly people out there. When we see someone who is blatantly of the world and holding no godly attributes, do we give them a standing ovation for their words and actions? This goes back to the post I did on who we admire and do we want to be like Jesus. I guess after knowing God and hearing Him first hand from His Voice to His Word, I'm not easily "impressed" with mortal man.

There is alot to consider when we think about our words. If you didn't read the comments from yesterday, go back and read what "they call me Deb" had to say, you will be blessed as she adds more to the concept of our "tongues, mouth, and words".

Hope you're finding this

as beneficial as I am!

love,

Debra