As long as we align ourselves with the ways of the world, tweaking our behavior and responses so as to blend in, we can never understand Psalm twelve. David again has a heavy heart and calls out to his Lord expressing his disgust with the people who surround him closely who are not genuine but fake. "The godly are no more! The faithful have vanished!" he charges, "Everyone lies and speaks with false flattery, deception is their motive!" Only someone who is "set apart" from this behavior or is a victim of it would call it out with such fervency. He files a claim with God that these wicked boastful people profess that, "They will triumph with their tongues; that they own their lips and proudly scoff, "Who is our master?".
Such boasting, lies, deception and false flattery is an abomination to God! Psalm 18:27 states, "You, oh Lord, save the humble but bring low those who's eyes are haughty." Proverbs 6:16 says, "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up dissension. Most of us want to think of the extreme of all of those listed but the truth is that God hates snootiness, pride, jealousy, envy, self-seeking, rudeness, records of wrongs, any kind of lying, hatred and unforgiveness, trouble makers and those who prod with hurtful or antagonistic innuendo's or accusations, gossips (anyone who has to whisper to say something they wouldn't say to the person they're talking about), meddling, followers of wrong, slandering, exaggerators of the truth, embellishers with intent to exacerbate already hot situations, haters, robbers of hope....Many of us water down these sins to a dilution that we can live with, but at any level, they are not pleasing to God.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12), and if you live by that command through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will be on the right path. Would you like acquaintances or friends to talk behind your back? Do you want people whispering about you? How about someone making up false stories about you? How would you feel if someone got others to rise against you? Or how about someone who told your secret and caused severe pain, loss and embarrassment? It's never pretty when the tables turn! But to those who over-power the innocent, weak and needy, verses 5 & 6 are where God announces, I will now arise. I will protect them from those who malign them!" David concludes in verse 6 & 7, "The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.
Do you want to be a protector of righteousness or someone who God must protect others from? No matter how innocent you think your behavior or intentions are....think of how you would want to be treated or spoken of, before you lean in and begin to whisper.
Proverbs 5:21, "For a person's ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all their ways."
Colossians 3:1-2, "Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts and minds on things above and not on earthly things."
Romans 8:5, "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."
1 Corinthians 13:4-8b, "Love is patient, kind, it does not envy nor boast. It is not proud, rude, self-seeking or easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
That, children of God, is how He loves you and wants you to love others! Tweak your behavior toward His ways.... not the worlds.
Such boasting, lies, deception and false flattery is an abomination to God! Psalm 18:27 states, "You, oh Lord, save the humble but bring low those who's eyes are haughty." Proverbs 6:16 says, "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up dissension. Most of us want to think of the extreme of all of those listed but the truth is that God hates snootiness, pride, jealousy, envy, self-seeking, rudeness, records of wrongs, any kind of lying, hatred and unforgiveness, trouble makers and those who prod with hurtful or antagonistic innuendo's or accusations, gossips (anyone who has to whisper to say something they wouldn't say to the person they're talking about), meddling, followers of wrong, slandering, exaggerators of the truth, embellishers with intent to exacerbate already hot situations, haters, robbers of hope....Many of us water down these sins to a dilution that we can live with, but at any level, they are not pleasing to God.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12), and if you live by that command through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will be on the right path. Would you like acquaintances or friends to talk behind your back? Do you want people whispering about you? How about someone making up false stories about you? How would you feel if someone got others to rise against you? Or how about someone who told your secret and caused severe pain, loss and embarrassment? It's never pretty when the tables turn! But to those who over-power the innocent, weak and needy, verses 5 & 6 are where God announces, I will now arise. I will protect them from those who malign them!" David concludes in verse 6 & 7, "The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.
Do you want to be a protector of righteousness or someone who God must protect others from? No matter how innocent you think your behavior or intentions are....think of how you would want to be treated or spoken of, before you lean in and begin to whisper.
Proverbs 5:21, "For a person's ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all their ways."
Colossians 3:1-2, "Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts and minds on things above and not on earthly things."
Romans 8:5, "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."
1 Corinthians 13:4-8b, "Love is patient, kind, it does not envy nor boast. It is not proud, rude, self-seeking or easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
That, children of God, is how He loves you and wants you to love others! Tweak your behavior toward His ways.... not the worlds.
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