Psalm 12: Straight Talk in a World of Sweet Lies

Psalm 12

Psalm 12 shows that while men lie, God's pure words stand fast forever. 
Trust Jesus today for your hope and peace.

Introduction

David looks out at the world around him and sees deep grief. Good men 
seem to fade away, and those who walk with God are hard to find (Psalm 
12:1). People use their mouths to deceive and cheat their neighbors 
(Psalm 12:2). It seems like lies are everywhere. Yet in the dark times, 
God has not left His people alone. He hears the cry of the poor and weak 
(Psalm 12:5). Jesus came into this dark world as the light of life (John 
8:12). He is the good Shepherd who knows His sheep and cares for them 
when all others fail (John 10:11).

Doctrine

The Bible teaches that human words fail, but God's word is clean, true, 
and sure (Psalm 12:6). Men change their minds and break their promises, 
but God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). His word is tried and pure, like silver 
brought out of the hot fire.
"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace
of earth, purified seven times."


Our text shows that God keeps His truth safe for every age (Psalm 12:7). 
Man cannot destroy or corrupt what God has promised. Jesus is the Word 
who became flesh and lived among us (John 1:1, John 1:14). He spoke only 
what the Father gave Him to speak (John 8:28). God also promises to act 
when His poor ones suffer (Psalm 12:5). He rises up to save those who 
trust in Him (Psalm 34:18).

Reproof

The context indicates that sin corrupts the human mouth (Psalm 12:2). 
Men use smooth talk to hide a bad heart (Proverbs 26:28). They speak 
with two hearts, saying one thing to your face while planning harm in 
secret (Psalm 12:2). Proud men boast in their own strength and think 
their words can give them power (Psalm 12:4). They ask who is lord over 
them, refusing to bow to God (Psalm 12:4). We should avoid sweet talk 
that seeks to mislead others. Pride and deceit bring God's strict 
judgment, for He will cut off all proud lips (Psalm 12:3, James 4:6).

Correction

Instead of proud and deceitful talk, this passage calls us to turn to 
God and lean on His clean word (Psalm 12:6). When the world is full of 
false news and lies, we must fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus 
spoke no lie and had no deceit found in His mouth (1 Peter 2:22). When 
He was mistreated, He did not fight back with bad words, but committed 
Himself to the Father (1 Peter 2:23). We correct our path when we submit 
our mind to the Bible and reject the false ways of this age (Psalm 119:104).

Instruction

The passage shows we implement this by guarding our mouth each day 
(Psalm 141:3). We do this by speaking plain truth in love to one another 
(Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 4:25). We must put away all bad talk, lies, 
and mean speech (Colossians 3:8). We hide God's pure words in our heart 
so that we will not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). We pray for grace so 
that our speech brings blessing and honor to the Lord Jesus (Psalm 19:14).
Encouragement and Hope
Even when bad men rule and walk on every side, God's children need not 
lose heart (Psalm 12:8, Psalm 27:1). God promises to keep His people 
safe from evil (Psalm 12:7, 2 Timothy 4:18). Jesus said that no man can 
pluck His sheep out of His hand (John 10:28). He will come back soon in 
power and great glory to make all things right (Revelation 19:11-16). On 
that day, all lies will stop, and His truth will rule the earth 
(Habakkuk 2:14).
Invitation
God demonstrated His love for us by sending His son  (John 3:16) to die 
for our sins, while we were still sinners (Romans 5). Every one of us 
has sinned in our thoughts, words, and deeds (Romans 3:23). Our sin 
separates us from God, and the penalty for sin is death and hell (Romans 
6:23, Revelation 20:14). You cannot save yourself by good works or 
church membership (Ephesians 2:8-9). But God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, 
to pay your death debt (John 3:17). Jesus died on the cross in your 
place (1 Peter 3:18). He shed His blood for your sins, was buried, and 
rose again from the dead three days later (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If you 
will turn from your sin and rely on Jesus’ death and resurrection alone 
to make you right with God, He will forgive you and give you eternal 
life (Romans 10:9-10, Romans 10:13). Call on the name of the Lord today, 
to save you, on the basis of His atonement for your sin.


-- 
Good News †

Through the cross, Christ erased the spiritual debt we owed to God for 
our rebellion (Colossians 2:14), a reality established when God raised 
Him from the dead (Romans 1:4). God can now righteously pardon our sins 
(Romans 3:26) and exempt us from the coming divine judgment (1 
Thessalonians 1:10). Salvation cannot be earned; it is a free gift for 
believers (Romans 6:23). Trust in Jesus and invoke His name to be saved 
(Romans 10:9-13):

How to be saved: christrose.news/salvation