Whose Words Carry Weight?
Opening Prayer
Ask God to prepare your eyes to read, your mind to understand, your heart to embrace, your will to obey.
Read PSALM 12:1-8
[1] For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. [2] Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. [3] May the LORD silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue- [4] those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us-who is lord over us?” [5] “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” [6] And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. [7] You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, [8] who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What behavior is moving God to action?The psalmist heard two kinds of words: words of falsehood, flattery, deceit (2), boastful, rebellious words (3) and, in stark contrast, God’s words. They are words of great and lasting value. They’re flawless, like silver perfectly refined (6).
The psalmist could not filter out these myriad voices. He could not claim to “hear no evil.” Neither can we, but we can choose whose words will shape and influence our attitudes and actions; and like Eve in Eden we can choose whose voice we will obey (Gen. 3:1-7).
Intelligence agencies obtain information from various sources. The credence placed on a particular piece of intelligence is greatly influenced by the reliability rating assigned to that source. The psalmist assigns God a top reliability rating (6)! That’s why he comes down firmly on God’s side (7), even though circumstances seemed hopeless (8). The psalmist demonstrated unfailing trust in his source. Disciples of Jesus are called to trust in him and rely on his promises, too.
Apply
In your life-choices, both big and small, whose words and what sources carry most weight?
Closing prayer
Lord, no matter how You choose to speak to me, it is Your voice that I want to listen to and follow.
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