PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Psalm 12
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“And the words of the Lord are flawless…” (Psalm 12:6)
David is questioning the loyalty of those who claim to speak the truth in love.
These are people close to him, fellow servants of God who ought to be gracious.
Their ‘truth’ crushes the poor and needy, making them groan.
Jesus shows us what the “word of the Lord” is like, and how it impacts people.
Jesus did not just claim to be the truth of God, he showed it in his treatment of others.
He spoke the truth of God, and the poor and needy felt safe and protected.
The one’s that were provoked were the one’s who claimed to know the truth.
They boasted in being right and orthodox, but their actions revealed the truth.
They claimed to speak the truth in love, but those hearing them did not feel loved.
I believe that the words (message) of the Lord are flawless.
But I do not believe that my words are flawless, nor yours or anyone else’s.
It is boastful arrogance and disloyalty to the Lord to elevate our truth over others.
The truth of God as seen in Jesus is on its knees, lifting up the poor and needy.
Are we as Jesus followers loyal to this truth, or to the truth of the pharisees?
PRAYER
Lord, may I not become boastful in my words and truth claims. May your humble gracious truth that lifts the poor and needy be heard from my lips and seen in my actions.
I know I need to be careful – I mean – not to be judgmental and to be quick to say that something is vile – what is vile? The Psalmist ends with: “when what is vile is honored by the human race”. Flattering lips and boastful people – are everywhere so the Psalmist cries out :”Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.” I need to avoid the vile – and definitely not honour it – and be faithful to walking in Jesus way – to be loyal to my heavenly Father! Lord, help me with discernment and help me to call sin for what it is yet love the sinner. Like the Psalmist says, Help – I need help – I need the prodding of the HS! Yes, help Lord – help me discern – to avoid the vile and to follow you faithfully!
God is my safe haven.
He protects His own.
He is the wind beneath my wings.
And as His, others must see Christ in me by my words and deeds.
I need to be an instrument of His peace.
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
Where there is hatred,
Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
And all for thy mercy’s sake.
O divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as o console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving hat we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.