Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak (v. 2, ESV).
Psalm 12 describes a country where truth isn’t spoken.
One commentator writes that Psalm 12 describes a culture that uses “artificial evasive language known as ‘doublespeak.’”
Does anyone speak the truth in our country today? Do opposing forces manipulate language for selfish purposes? Are we witnessing propaganda and promotion that make up what we call “media?”
We as a country, a culture, as families, and as individuals are in trouble. Truth isn’t told, can’t be spoken, and our words become weapons for vendettas and selfish purposes.
In Psalm 12, David describes 2023 with these words . . .
They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own – who can stop us?” (v. 4).
How many of us are frustrated by the twisting tongue of language that uses good words like “choice” to promote killing the unborn, “love” to justify the destruction of gender, and “protect” in schools that desire to eliminate parental influence with children?
Do we know what the words racism, justice, science, and equality mean today?
With our language confused, can we define right and wrong? Have we become like Pilate, who, while looking at Jesus, asks the question, “What is truth?”
We have hope. Psalm 12 teaches that the Word of God is more powerful than lies, deception, flattery, and manipulation . . .
The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times (v. 6).
The truth of God is heated and refined seven times (seven is the perfect number) before being spoken in Scripture. When I read Psalm 12, I remember Jesus saying . . .
The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life (John 6:63).
Now read slowly . . .
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:19-21).
Verse 8 of Psalm 12 describes today . . .
On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.
But those rooted in the living and abiding Word of God have this promise . . .
You, O Lord, will keep us; you will guard us from this generation forever (v. 7).
More than at any time in history, let us proclaim the Word of God. It has the power to heal, set captives free, and save a lost generation.