Psalm 12

A Bible Devotion from Psalm 12

The Words of the Lord are Pure Words

Help Lord, for the godly man ceases!
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
The Twelfth Psalm, verse 1, NKJV

Have you noticed that common thread that has been running through many of these Psalms. The wicked are overpowering us--the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.

Because we tend to read the psalms in succession, it seems as though the writers never learn the lessons. However, when one thinks upon one's own experience, often it seems as though we continue to face the same struggles again, and again, and again! We come to God, we find Him faithful, and then we quickly seem to forget. The next time we are confronted with the same difficulty, it seems we have to learn the same lesson again.

Over an extended period of time, we begin to realize that in reality, our faith is growing--maybe rather slowly, but it is still growing. I am sure David experienced much the same thing, for after all, he was a person just like us.

Psalm 12 is a call to God's people to turn from the flattering lips, the proud tongue, and the oppression of the poor around us. God's response to this wickedness is, in verse 5: Now I will arise, I will set Him in the safety for which he yearns.

Let us, instead, look to the Lord because we know and believer that, The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. You shall keep them, O Lord, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. Psalm 5:6-7

In a world tainted by sin, misery, and affliction, there are not many things truly pure. Not many guarantees are truly guarantees. We are especially mindful of that in the United States when it is a presidential election year. But God is not like man; His words are pure and righteous. In God is neither lying nor even a shadow of turning; we can trust the words of God implicitly.

As we read Psalm 12, let us remember that this is real. Our world lives in a world that only exists in their minds; they do not see the reality of a world created and ruled by God. Consequently they do not understand their true end. But we do!

It is very important that we remember this, for far too often even Christians are pulled into this "world without God" mentality that so permeates our society. We get caught up in "the cycle of life" hurrying from here to there to accomplish nothing of true eternal value. Unfortunately Christians have allowed the world to taint their view of things, and have consequently not been the salt and light they are called to be.

How will this world come to Christ if the true believers are running away from Him as quickly as non-believers? We must remember that we have a God-given purpose to fulfill during these few short years we are on this earth. Let us, then, not be pulled into the tangled web of sin and misery that exists for most people in the world today. Let us, instead, bring forth God's Word and message of salvation to a world badly in need of Christ's forgiveness.

Pray that God will help you today to see the true world around you. Pray also that God will help you to learn how to be "of the world, but not in the world." Most of all, get on your knees and pray for those around you, especially the non-Christians. Pray that their eyes that have been blinded by sin will be opened. We carry the Light of Life, the only Hope for a world cascading into eternal darkness forever. Oh that we would learn to love the lost and pray that they may come to the mercy, love, and joy of Christ--that they, too, may receive the pure words of the Lord that have, like silver, been purified seven times.

That is why we are here! That is why Christ did not take us home the moment we first believed!

Next: Psalm 13, I Have Trusted in Your Mercy

More Devotions from Psalm 12

Verses 1-2, Where Are the Godly?

Verses 3-5, Who is Lord?

Verses 6-8, Pure Words