Verbal Shenanigans

01.28.13

Psalm 12.1 1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. NIV

I’m not sure when Psalm 12 was written; apparently it was a Davidic psalm. It laments that times are tough and no one seemed to trust in the Lord anymore. It’s hard to think that that sort of culture would’ve been prevalent in David’s day, but when Saul was anointed king the nation could’ve easily slipped into feudalism or even civil war.

David may have been reacting to empty belief or empty people. Empty belief is when the mouth seems to be in it but the heart isn’t. Empty people seem to have developed a cynicism that demands: what’s the use – what does it matter? These kinds of thoughts come when there is apparent corruption and deceit in governmental circles; when no one trusts much of anything anymore.

In our day anything can be said and whatever is said doesn’t need to be defended as to whether or not it’s true. It’s called the Information Age. People want to hear the truth but because information comes from so many varying sources, there is much misinformation: stuff that just isn’t true or accurate; dis-information: stuff that is intentionally misleading; and deceit: stuff that is out and out lies and part of an effort of propaganda to mask the agenda.

All of this leads to people giving up. All of this leads to people making up their minds that God is somehow not involved, or somehow doesn’t care. And it’s been happening for centuries. David’s complaint was, “Lord the faithful (God-fearing, God-believing) are gone – the culture is far too saturated with cynicism and no one trusts in You anymore!” And it may appear that way.

But where men aren’t faithful – God always is. When men speak lies, God always speaks the truth. Where men may be caught up in their cynicism and despair, God is always present and always involved. Either God is involved or we’re all in really deep trouble.

In times of verbal shenanigans, God may actually be helping people to be able to contrast what is really true and what is really worth living for. God has promised to provide and to guide His people and it really doesn’t matter what happens because He has promised. Either I believe that or I don’t. But whether I believe it or not, doesn’t promote or negate God’s presence – it only bespeaks where my heart really is.

David’s psalm is a reminder of when the times get tough and the believing seem to be few and far in between. But Psalm 12 declares that no matter the agenda, God is always there for His own. Second Amendment or not, God is there for His people and He has told us to faithfully, eagerly, and readily tell others about Him…

Father, I am tempted to believe that all is lost, but that is a lie from hell. These days are days in which we are called to choose to what we really believe in: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; or Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done… May I be found faithful. Amen