Pure Words

For many in the world today truth is hard to come by. Even basic facts are disputed or spun to support a particular viewpoint or agenda. In this Psalm David seems to look at the world around him and he struggles to find an observable remnant of the godly and faithful. A painful reality in David’s era and ours is that those who are truly following the Lord have always been in the minority. The world is not as the godly and faithful would have it to be and so we like David pray, help Lord! This theme repeats several times in the Psalms and God’s reply is, wait on me, listen to me and shelter with me.

The Corruption of the World

Described by David in three ways:

Flattery (v. 2)

Flattery is a sin that functions in multiple directions. It is a two way street.

One might be guilty of flattery in the traditional sense of using insincere praise in order to manipulate someone into a belief or action that you desire.

The other way that we might be guilty of a form of flattery is to seek it out. The truth is that many of us enjoy being praised whether it is sincere or not.

Don’t tell me what I need to hear, tell me what I want to hear.

Isaiah 28:15 “Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;”

Isaiah 30:8–11 “And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.””

John 5:44 “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,”

One preacher defined flattery as “saying only what other people want o hear and hearing only what you want other people to say.”

There is a term which is floating around today which defines another type of flattery, virtue signaling.

This is when we say something that we know other people find virtuous solely for the sake of making ourselves look good.

It is also hypocritical because whether or not you actually believe what you say is irrelevant to the purpose of why you said it.

And your actions reveal the truth of your belief.

Another avenue of flattery is seeking out only validation. We should take care to not easily or quickly dismiss the thought that this is a sin that we may be guilty of. It can at times be very subtle.

Our text here in the Psalms is quite clear that flattery is deceptive or dishonest. When you are employing flattery you are lying. As David looks at the world around him his diagnosis is that “everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and double heart...”

David’s desire is that the Lord put an end to all the deceptive flattery he hears around him. (v. 3)

Arrogance (v. 4)

“With our tongue we will prevail...”

I can talk my way out of any situation.

One author likened this phrase to a corrupted lawyer who exploits every loophole and hides every falsehood in the fine print of a contract.

“Our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

My lips are my own; nobody is in charge of me.

This obvious arrogance makes me think of one of God’s replies to Moses at the burning bush: “who made man’s mouth?”

Perhaps the biggest lie ever told is that we are the captains of our fate and the commanders of our soul.

What a terrible misconception of the sovereignty of God.

Vileness (v. 8)

Vile: extremely unpleasant, morally bad or wicked

“The wicked prowl on every side.” The godly and faithful are out numbered and surrounded.

David’s observation was that he lived in a time when that which was vile was exulted or celebrated. Have things really changed that much? This Psalm is just as applicable today as it has ever been.

The world has always been inverted and upside down when it comes to morality.

Throughout history that which is evil has been called good. What is vile is exulted.

Babies murdered in their mothers womb is said to be a good thing.

A person who is so mentally ill that they think they are in the wrong body and even harm themselves to indulge their fantasy is celebrated and enabled. Nor does the situation when it is a child.

The Response of the Lord

Three ways that the Lord responds to the wickedness in in the world.

God Listens (v. 5)

God knows what is going on in the world.

He hears the cry of the needy.

But I don’t see God answering my prayers!

John 15:7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Trust me when I say that it has less to do with God not answering your prayers and more to do with your inability to see or hear God’s answer.

Many times God’s response is that we need to get our hearts right with Him before we come to Him with supplication.

The condition of “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” is that we abide in Christ and His words abide in us.

God Speaks (v. 5&6)

“God told me to tell you…” “I have a word from the Lord for you.” “I am a prophet of God.” Claims like the above are increasingly common these days. Sadly, most people who say them do not understand how dangerous they are. Claiming direct revelation from God is essentially putting yourself in a place of equal authority with the Word of God. If God speaks, it is always going to be 100% inerrant, authoritative, true, holy, and perfect. If God truly told you to tell me something, I better listen or I am in direct rebellion against God.

God is not silent. (He never has been.)

God speaks through His Word and to be clear I do not believe the notion that God has spoken through His word and is silent today. I believe that God is still speaking through His Word which is an inexhaustible well of truth.

God speaks through His creation.

In a sense God speaks through the Holy Spirit who guides and convicts us.

Admittedly if what you want is the audible voice of God you are probably going to be disappointed. However, Scripture is also clear that at the very least God will speak again this way when Christ returns.

Specifically the pure words here is the promise that has just been made. “I will arise” says the Lord “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

God has spoken and has declared that He will care for the needy.

We don’t always know how or when but we can trust His word.

Rather than questioning the sovereign God of the universe perhaps we should trust him.

God Saves

God is active in the world and your life individually.

God’s clear desire to intervene in the world could not be more evident than through the actions of His Son.

You and I have absolutely no idea the multitude of ways that God has already intervened in our lives.

The Strategy of the Believer

The Strategy of the Believer:

Wait on the Lord

Notice that this Psalm is future oriented.

David’s request is that God will do something.

The Lord says: “I will”

God’s plans, purposes and promises are things we must be willing to wait for.

Listen to the Lord

As we wait God has not left us with no guidance.

As God made His promise to provide safety for the needy David immediately reminds us that God’s words are pure words.

We can rely on them because they are perfect in every way. Illustrated in the Psalm by the refining process of metal in a furnace.

Shelter with the Lord (v. 7)

You will keep them

You will guard us

Perhaps this serves as a reminder of last week’s Psalm which taught us to find refuge in the Lord.