Psalm 12
Sunday, 04 February 2024
“And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.” -Psalm 12: 6
Research shows that an average person speaks around 7000 words per day and even more – How much of those words we speak build our listeners? How do our listeners perceive us? Do we realize that our words define us?— people can figure us out by the way we speak! Watch your words!
In today’s text we read how the psalmist is surrounded by people with malicious intent that he begins this Psalm asking God to save him from them. Who are these kinds of people? Do we reflect any of these? There are people who:
1) Speak idly (vs. 2) – Proverbs10:19 says “When words are many, sin is not absent.” Are we people with a loose tongue?
2) Flattering tongue (vs.2) – is a lying, insincere tongue. It says what it does not mean and so destroys the lives of the listeners. Proverbs 26:28 says “a flattering mouth works ruin.”
3) Double-hearted speech (vs 2) – These are people with a deceitful tongue. Psalm 35:20 “For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters….” Ps.62:4 says “…They delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.”
4) Proud tongue (vs.3) – Rev.13:5 describes the beast having a proud and boastful tongue – 1 John 2:16 says “…the boasting of what we have and do, does not come from the Father.” So the next time you boast, just pause and think….
5) Arrogant tongue (vs.4) – This is a tongue that does not acknowledge the greatness of God but rather depends on its own strength to achieve things in life.
All of the above just shows us how we stand today before a Holy God— we fall short with our faulty tongues/words! Coming to realize our shortfalls, it time to repent and submit ourselves for a makeover!
Against man’s words, the Psalmist now focuses on the God’s Words. Psalm 12:6 declares God’s Words as: Tested and pure. The words of God are compared to silver that is refined by fire. Its purity can never be questioned. So His words are:
· Free from deceit, completely trustworthy – John 17:17
· Has the power to keep us at all times – His words never fail – Matt.24:35
· His words are eternal – Psalm 119:89
Now that we are His children, the Lord desires to see us reflect Him in all that we say. The only way we can emulate Him is –
· By allowing God to renew our hearts by purifying us – Malachi 3:3
· By purifying our lips – Isaiah 6:5&6
· By being filled with the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:3&4
· By holding on to His Word that He has given us – John 17:8
How do you weigh you words today? Remember: our words/speech not just impact us but others as well. Let’s let go off those words that don’t fit our lifestyle as a Christian. Instead let us trust the pure and tested words of God to purify us and hold on to so we can reflect Him. As we align our lives to God, He will raise up a generation with purified lips to worship Him and united in service to the Lord (Zephaniah 3:9).
Quote for the day: “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” -Proverbs 30:5
Listen: 'WORDS!'