WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.199 So good morning. 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:06.000 Turn with me, if you will, to Psalm chapter 12. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:08.400 Psalm chapter 12. 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:16.719 And our passage this morning addresses the question where did all of the righteous people go? 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:21.440 It's very similar to Psalm 10, which I preached on last week. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:23.280 Where's God? 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:28.239 When the wicked are prospering and when righteous people are suffering, where is God? 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:35.920 And so kind of in a similar vein, David here is asking the same question. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:38.479 Where is righteousness? 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:39.520 Did it vanish? 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:40.799 Is it gone? 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:44.240 Have you ever felt that way? 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:49.280 I know I have, so don't judge me here. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:53.840 But have you ever gone to a public place to people watch? 00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:56.240 I have. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:57.600 In fact, I do. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:13.920 And I was at Starbucks, what was it, two weeks ago, I believe, and I was working on my computer and I took a break, and I just kind of looked around, just observing people's behaviors, their interactions, their conversations. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:19.200 And I was just appalled at what I saw and what I heard. 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:22.480 There was a lady across just across from me. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:28.640 She was cussing out, like using vulgar language, this small little toddler. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:34.480 After a while, the guy next to me, he was on his phone, he was speaking real loudly. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:42.239 He was just abusing his girlfriend or wife, I'm not sure who it was, over the phone, just being nasty towards her. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:57.120 And then I noticed this young man who was at the counter, who was hitting on this girl who was working behind the counter, and he was trying to coax her into coming to a party that weekend to get smashed, get drunk. 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:01.040 And then as I left, I packed up my bag, went into the parking lot. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:07.359 There were two cars, right, just honking at each other, middle fingers, cussing at each other, just screaming. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:14.080 And I'm thinking, goodness, is this where we're at as a society? 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:19.199 Is anyone capable of speaking anything good at all? 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:25.680 And then I thought, you know, oh my, like these people most likely are all parents. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:28.479 They're raising up the next generation. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:31.039 Like, we are doomed. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:42.479 And I just had this hopeless feeling that wickedness is growing and thriving while righteousness is diminishing. 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:44.080 It's vanishing. 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:47.199 That is what David is feeling here. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:53.520 He is looking around for godly righteous people, and he can't seem to find any. 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:55.439 Did they disappear? 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:57.280 Where are they? 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:05.840 Because right now, as he observes the world around him, it seems as though the godly have vanished. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:08.560 And this causes David to lament. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:21.680 It causes him to cry out in verse 1, Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone, for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:36.240 Now we don't know the exact circumstances under which David wrote this psalm, but we do know that David in his lifetime experienced seasons where he was surrounded by evil men. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:42.960 Noah in Genesis 6 certainly knew what this felt like. 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:54.560 Even the great prophet Elijah in 1 Kings chapter 19 shared the same lament when he cried out, Lord, I'm the only one left. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:57.280 Like all of Israel, it's corrupt. 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:04.240 It's this human feeling that we get when evil seems to be winning. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:09.280 Darkness seems to be consuming everyone and everything around us. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:15.039 We hear about more murders than we do conversions. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:19.680 More people are chasing after drugs than they are after Jesus. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:25.199 More people are attending drunken parties than they are church. 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:31.279 More people are being discipled in sin than they are in Christ. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:39.519 David knew this feeling, which causes him to cry out, Save, O Lord. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:42.720 He knows that the Lord must save. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:49.199 He must preserve and protect and sustain those who are faithful. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:57.439 Now David was a king with more earthly resources than any of us will ever possess. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:02.959 He had immeasurable wealth, he had armies at his disposal. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:07.920 He even had the means to implement governing laws. 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:24.240 But one thing that David couldn't do is stop the oppression of the wicked or preserve the people of God, which is why he says, save, O Lord, because the righteous seem to have vanished. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:29.360 And next in verse 2, David tells us why he is feeling this way. 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:30.800 What is he seeing? 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:35.839 What is he hearing that makes him feel like godly people are extinct? 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:42.879 Well, he tells us in verse 2, everyone utters lies to his neighbor. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:46.399 With flattering lips and a double heart, they speak. 00:05:47.439 --> 00:06:02.480 So if you read through 1 and 2 Samuel, you quickly realize that David was a man who was constantly dealing with slander and false accusations and people backbiting. 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:12.240 People were always bearing false witness against him, accusing him of things that he didn't do, spreading lies about him behind his back. 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:22.079 So David probably would have preferred to battle with swords and shields than dealing with gossips and backbiters. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:28.720 And I'm also convinced that David had his master's degree in anthropology. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:32.399 Okay, he understood the human heart. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:37.759 He also understood how damaging words can be. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:43.360 And as he looks around, he doesn't hear people blessing the Lord. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:48.639 People are not walking around singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:52.399 They're not building one another up in the most holy faith. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:57.920 Everywhere that David looks, people are lying to each other. 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:01.120 People are lying for personal gain. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:03.839 Trust me, I just need a little loan. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:06.079 I'll pay you back Friday. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:09.519 But Friday comes and vanishes. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:11.040 It wasn't alone. 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:14.480 People are gaslighting. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:17.839 You're being way too sensitive. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:21.600 I never said that, but you know they did. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:27.680 They're rewriting history with their mouth, making you question your own sanity. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:32.399 People are slandering others to destroy reputations. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:38.639 I saw Sarah the other day with some guy the other night, looked shady. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:48.639 A single sentence, vague enough to raise eyebrows, but sharp enough to cut someone's character into pieces. 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:52.480 People are manipulating each other with emotional guilt. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:57.040 If you really cared about me, you'd give me what I want. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:07:58.720 That's not love. 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:01.759 That's control wrapped in a guilt trip. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:04.560 People are selective with truth. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:08.240 They omit context. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:10.079 They twist facts. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:13.920 They leave out what matters to push their own story. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:19.120 And so David, he summarizes this speech in two ways. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:22.319 The first mentioned is flattering lips. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:29.199 So flattery is used to deceive someone for personal gain. 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:36.240 This speech is used to gain approval or advantage over someone by flattering them. 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:43.440 Okay, so let's just say, for example, I wanted a pay raise at Lazarus. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:45.440 Okay, and I'm being greedy about it. 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:46.240 That's my motive. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:47.519 I'm being greedy. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:52.960 So for a month, I go to my board of directors and I'm just buttering them up. 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:56.399 Okay, and I'm saying, you guys are so generous. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:01.440 Ever since you guys came on the board, you guys are just a generous group of individuals. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:04.000 All of you are so selfless. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:07.600 You're always thinking about what other people need, right? 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:10.559 You guys are just so godly and caring. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:13.919 This mission wouldn't exist without you guys. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:17.039 And Don, you've got such great style. 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:19.120 Man, you're always looking good. 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:23.120 All true statements, by the way. 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:28.000 But I use this speech to flatter them. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:36.159 I'm manipulating them to win them to my selfish desires because I want them to give me more. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:37.120 Right? 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:44.559 This was not sought out by prayer, by being led in the power of the Holy Spirit with honest discussion. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:47.919 It's manipulation, it's flattery. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:50.399 And the second is this. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:51.759 Look at the verse. 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:54.159 They speak with a double heart. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:57.600 The original Hebrew here is a heart within a heart. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:59.679 Okay, it means divided loyalty. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:01.519 They don't mean what they say. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:09.200 Anias and Sephirah in Acts chapter 5, if you guys remember that story, is a perfect example of this. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:16.480 You say something in pretend devotion, but your heart is with sin and with greed. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:19.919 You say one thing, but you mean another. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:30.080 James tells us in his epistle, they bless God and they curse men with the same tongue, sometimes in the same sentence. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:39.279 As Charles Spurgeon once said, he said, A man without a heart is a wonder, but a man with two hearts is a monster. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:48.720 This is what David is seeing all around him, and all of the consequences that come with this. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:11:00.080 This type of language, it not only reveals the condition of the human heart, but it is causing so much destruction. 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:05.759 As James says in his epistle in chapter 3, the tongue is heinous. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:10.960 He refers to it as a wildfire, a world of evil. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:18.399 Did you know, church, that most people who commit suicide were verbally abused? 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:20.080 Did you know that? 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:29.840 Did you know that most school shooters are people who were verbally bullied and listened to extremist words on the internet? 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:39.679 Did you know that millions of marriages have been destroyed because of verbal venom that was spewed between spouses? 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:47.919 Did you know that entire lives and careers have been ruined because of one small rumor? 00:11:48.559 --> 00:12:01.120 There are literally decades of unforgiveness, bitter resentment, broken relationships, resulting in a lifetime of estrangement of family members because of words. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:10.960 Okay, entire cults that have blasphemed the gospel and deceived millions of people for decades were started how? 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:15.679 By a false word that someone spoke. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:27.440 Wars have been started among nations, not merely because of actions, but because of slanderous words spoken among political leaders and media. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:34.080 So what you say and how you say it matters. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:40.080 The old mantra, sticks and stones, may break my bones, but words can never hurt me is a lie. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:49.440 Words have influence, but even more than that, what we say reveals what's truly in our heart. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:59.039 And right now, as David observes everyone around him, he hears nothing but garbage coming out of everyone's mouth. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:02.960 And this provokes King David to cry out for judgment. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:06.799 Look at what he says in verses three and four. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:17.600 He says, May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, With our tongue we will prevail. 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:25.600 Church, this is strong language. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:30.000 David, in essence, is saying, Lord, cut out their tongue. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:35.519 Okay, make them incapable of ever using their mouth to flatter. 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:44.399 Remove the small, little muscle membrane in their mouth that boasts so loudly and proudly. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:55.679 And the reason David says this is because he's so sick and tired of seeing these people worship their tongue and do damage with it. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:59.919 They put so much faith in the deception of their mouth. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:02.559 Look at what he says in verse 4. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:06.480 They boast with their mouth, saying, We will prevail. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:08.080 Our lips are with us. 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.159 Who is master over us? 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:25.200 What they are saying, in essence, is this I will be successful because of my mouth, my smooth talk, can get me whatever I want, and there's no master over me. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.840 I am my own master. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:30.240 Talk about pride. 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:51.600 They trust in their own deceitful words, and what they fail to recognize is that their mouth was created by God to bless him, to declare his glories, to speak words of life and encouragement to others. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.759 They fail to recognize that there is a master. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:02.559 His name is Jesus Christ, and our mouth is to praise and glorify him alone. 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:17.039 But these people instead they take this God-given gift in privilege and they use it as a weapon to destroy others for their own personal benefit. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:26.159 That is David's complaint, that the Lord would save the godly and stop the wicked from spreading lies. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:31.039 He is exhausted of seeing all the falsehoods around him. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:37.600 He's tired of seeing God's people suffer because the wicked are speaking lies about them. 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:41.440 Which is why David appeals to God's justice. 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:47.360 And next, the psalm takes this drastic turn. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:53.679 It's almost as if the Lord interrupts David's lament and God speaks. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:16:07.919 The irony here is these destructive talkers, they spoke as they pleased, but they cannot stop the Lord God from speaking as he pleases. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:23.279 And so the Lord responds to David's lament, saying in verse 5, Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise, says the Lord. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:27.840 I will place him in the safety for which he longs. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:33.279 So the Lord intervenes in David's complaint. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.480 God is not deaf. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:49.120 He's not far away out there somewhere. 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:54.320 And when we talk to him, it doesn't need to download first before it sends. 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:59.600 The Lord is an all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful God. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:06.480 And even more than that, he is a God who cares about the poor who've been plundered. 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:09.200 He cares about the needy who groan. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:15.519 He cares about all of the injustice that has been done to his children. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:23.680 When people mess with the righteous, they are ultimately messing with God. 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:36.640 Do you all remember Acts chapter 9 when Saul was on the road to Damascus, on his way to arrest Christians for their faith in Jesus? 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:45.039 And God stopped him in his tracks and said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Christians? 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.160 No, it's not what God said. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:52.000 God said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:56.240 So here's what this means, church. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:59.200 God takes care of his people. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:04.880 His son, Jesus Christ, has purchased you by his precious blood. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:08.240 Your name is written in the will of God. 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:10.160 You are his child. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:18.880 And because he is a loving, a compassionate, and just Father, He's going to take care of you. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:36.960 No matter what's been done to you, no matter what you've experienced in life, no matter how big the storm is that you feel like you're in right now, He has made irrevocable promises that He will fulfill for you. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:40.640 And what exactly will He do? 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:43.359 Well, look at the next part of the verse. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:48.640 He will place him in the safety for which he longs for. 00:18:50.079 --> 00:19:00.079 What do you need most when sinful people have betrayed you, hurt you, slandered you, abused you? 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:08.799 What is it that you need when sinful men have damaged you in unspeakable ways? 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:16.559 What do you need when you have experienced so much suffering in this life? 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:24.480 I don't know about you, but what I yearn for is safety, security. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:36.079 Maybe you're here this morning and you've been physically, verbally, emotionally, sexually abused in some fashion and form, and you're just messed up from it. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:39.359 Like your head's not right, you're damaged by it. 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:45.119 Maybe you're here and you've been betrayed by people, you've been taken advantage of. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:48.640 You've been thrown away like a piece of trash. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:52.720 And because of these things, you're broken. 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:55.920 There's pain deep inside your soul. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:59.039 You can't trust anyone, or at least you feel like you can't. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:02.079 Your life has never been the same. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:07.680 Fret not, because God has a promise for you. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:14.960 He will arise and bring you into the safety in which you longed for. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:33.119 And here's the nature of this promise: God is going to arise to your occasion, yes, you, for those who are in Christ, and he is going to come down and uplift you in his grace and bring you under the wing of his security. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.160 Church, this is a promise. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:44.240 God will bring you into a place of security because he loves you and he sees your pain and your suffering. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:49.920 I mean, the greatest example of this is what God did for Jesus Christ. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:21:01.519 After Jesus was unjustly accused, tormented by sinful men, nailed to a tree, God did what? 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:03.759 Raised him up. 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:08.240 God gave him a name, a title above all creation. 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:13.759 Jesus now sits at the right hand of God, exalted on high. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:24.319 And if God did this for Jesus, will he not do it for you who are in Christ, those who've been purchased by the blood of Christ? 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:32.559 Now someone might object and say, Well, how and when is he going to do this? 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:36.000 When will God arise to my occasion? 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:40.799 And how exactly will he provide me for security? 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:53.920 Well, I can't exactly answer that because the psalmist doesn't either, but he will do it, for he has promised, and he will do it in his timing and in his way. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:22:02.480 So if you identify this morning as an afflicted saint, Cling to this promise. 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:12.160 The promise that the God of all comfort will come to your aid and fully satisfy that part of your being that's poor and plundered. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:24.079 And it may not be physical, maybe there's some physical aspects to it, meaning God may bring you into a place of physics on a physical level, but the spiritual is guaranteed. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:27.519 God will secure you by giving you his peace. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:30.400 That's what we sang this morning, and in the valley. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:53.839 And ultimately, at the end of your days, God will resurrect you and bring you into a total, everlasting security forevermore. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:59.200 This is who God is, and this is what he does. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:03.759 If God is for you, who can be against you? 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:09.599 Now you may object and say, Well, how do I know that God will do that? 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:14.000 How do I know if I can take God at His Word? 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:16.559 Are his words trustworthy? 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.359 Well, David answers this objection. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:26.160 He comforts us by saying in verse 6, the words of the Lord are pure words. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:32.319 Like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:38.319 So God's words are not like man's words. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:44.240 We make promises we don't keep, we say things we don't mean. 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:48.640 Man's words are often weightless and empty. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:52.160 We speak out of both sides of our mouth. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:57.680 But when God speaks, his words are pure. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:03.200 Meaning they are perfectly good and for our benefit. 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:06.720 They are life-giving, they are trustworthy. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:11.440 His promises are maybe we'll see. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:15.279 No, the words of God are yes and amen. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:21.039 If God says he will comfort you, he will comfort you. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:25.039 If God says he will do it, it will happen. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:28.799 If God has promised it, it will come to pass. 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:31.039 God is not like us. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:34.720 He can't tell a lie, he cannot deceive. 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:42.160 His very nature is holy, he is perfect in everything he does and says, and his words are eternal. 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:50.240 Jesus tells us himself that heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:55.119 So David uses this imagery here that we can all understand. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:25:00.400 His words are like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:08.960 This simply means that there's no impurity in what God says, no hint of falsehood. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:17.279 His words are the most valuable, precious, honest, meaningful words in all of the universe. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:39.680 If God's words have the power to create everything out of nothing, if they have the power to transform lives, if Jesus was able to raise a dead man to life by simply saying, Lazarus, come forth, then we can trust in God's promise here. 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:50.160 That He will advocate on our behalf, He will uplift us in His grace, and He will bring us the security and the safety for which we long for. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:26:03.519 In contrast to the idle, two-faced, lying, proud lips of David's enemies, God's words are pure. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:06.400 Therefore, they can be trusted, church. 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:08.640 We can actually live on them. 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:09.200 Right? 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:15.200 Man cannot live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:29.200 This is what keeps us stable, insane, in a world filled with confusion, by trusting in, relying on, and clinging to the words of Yahweh. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:37.440 And David supports this claim by declaring in verses 7 and 8 that God will do what he says. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:41.519 He says, You, O Lord, will keep them. 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:51.119 You will guard us from this generation forever, on every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of men. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.519 So the Lord will keep them. 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.160 Keep what? 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:56.720 Meaning God will keep his words. 00:26:57.839 --> 00:27:07.119 So far, the Bible historically has proven to be 100% true, historically and experientially. 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:10.640 God kept his word with Israel. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:14.319 He kept his word concerning the promised Messiah. 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:18.880 Everything that God has spoken so far has come to pass. 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:22.400 Therefore, why would we doubt his word now? 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:27.200 No skeptic can disprove this. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:34.640 They can't even make an argument without committing intellectual and logical suicide. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:42.720 Okay, all of history, science, archaeology, present-day testimonials is shouting. 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:44.640 The Bible is true. 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:47.680 It's alive, it's active. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:52.400 The God of the Bible actually does what he says. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:59.359 And someone might object and say, yeah, but look at the increase of wickedness. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:04.319 Look at how much resources, power, influence evil people have. 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:07.440 Lies are being universally embraced. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:11.599 Deception is spreading into every family unit. 00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:18.160 And you say that God's words are true and trustworthy. 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:23.440 But if the world continues as it is, I have doubts. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:33.039 Well, this is why David assures us in the next part of the verse: God will guard us from this evil generation. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:36.960 Yes, things seem bad. 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:40.559 Yes, things look hopeless. 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:48.640 Yes, new sinful inventions and forms of evil are being promoted and accepted. 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:54.480 But the world's condition doesn't change the word of God. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.119 Okay? 00:28:55.440 --> 00:29:07.759 Whether the world is healthy or unhealthy, whether Christianity is on the rise or the fall, whether Christians are being commended or persecuted, it doesn't matter. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:11.519 God's word is going to remain true. 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:18.000 Yes, the world's in a wreck, but that doesn't mean that God's word has failed. 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:23.920 He is going to guard his chosen people from Satan's grip. 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:27.920 The gates of hell will not overtake us. 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:32.640 He will preserve us until the very end, for he's promised. 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:41.920 He will rescue us from this present evil generation until we arrive safely in glory with him forevermore. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:52.400 There's no event, people group, government, fill in the blank that is going to stop God's salvation plan for his people. 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:54.799 God sticks to his word. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:30:01.599 Sometimes we forget that this whole world is under the grip of the evil one. 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:12.960 We forget, 1 John 5, verse 19, that we are of God and that the whole rest of the world lies under the grip of the evil one. 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:24.799 He reminds us by saying in the last part of the verse, on every side the wicked prow, as vileness is exalted among the children of men. 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:30.480 So we might feel like this psalm ends on kind of a sad, depressing note. 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:34.000 Yet David was realistic in his outlook. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:46.960 He knew that even with the precious and the pure word of God available to men, that many of the sons of men would still prefer vileness to be exalted. 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:53.920 We shouldn't be surprised when sinners do what sinners do. 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:59.519 We shouldn't be shocked that evil prowls at every street corner. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:10.480 We shouldn't be startled when sinners stand up on a pedestal, holding up corruption, saying, This is what we love and this is what we worship. 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:12.880 Of course they act this way. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:15.599 This whole world is lost. 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:18.079 It operates in godlessness. 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:29.680 And in case we forgot, the entire human race was separated from God and given over to the control of Satan the moment sin entered the world in Genesis 3. 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:37.359 But we, we who have given our life to Christ, have been saved from the domain of darkness. 00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:39.759 Yes, we still live in the world. 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:43.920 We interact with it, but we are not of it. 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:48.319 We no longer participate in its mutiny against God. 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:51.599 Our hope is in Jesus Christ. 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:54.000 Our hope is in the Word of God. 00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:59.599 Our hope is in the new heaven, in the new earth, which is coming soon. 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:06.559 So don't become so unraveled, church, by evil around you. 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:14.000 Don't get all discouraged thinking I'm the only righteous person left, or we're the only true church left. 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:17.039 It's kind of a prideful thing to say, anyways. 00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:22.480 Instead, remember the promises of God. 00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:28.559 Evil is not going away until Christ returns or he calls us home. 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:30.400 That's the reality. 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:36.319 We are redeemed children of God living in a world that hates him. 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:40.480 And we will be the minority. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:44.319 Jesus told us plainly in Matthew chapter 7. 00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:48.480 Narrow is the road that leads to life. 00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.759 It's narrow. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.599 Few people find it. 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:56.240 And broad is the highway going to hell. 00:32:57.359 --> 00:33:02.079 But just because we're the minority, it doesn't mean that we're alone. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:04.000 We are not alone. 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:08.240 We may be a remnant, but we're not alone. 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:13.839 And so despite what we see or what we experience in this world, God will keep his word. 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:38.160 Even if the world was on the brink of World War III, even if every sinful activity was legalized, and the whole world joined together to conspire and kill all Christians, our response should be, yeah, not surprised. 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:40.720 God told us this would happen. 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:42.319 We should expect this. 00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:45.759 But our hope is in God's word. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:54.319 And my concern is in what God has said and what he can do, not what man has said and not what man can do. 00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:58.240 So that is what this Psalm is all about. 00:33:58.640 --> 00:34:09.440 Wickedness may be increasing, righteousness may be on the decline, but fret not, church, God will bring his people into safety. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:14.159 His word will remain true because it's pure. 00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:23.280 He will guard his people, even if vileness is exalted in every corner of the earth. 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:26.960 So, proclamation church, what's our applications? 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:30.320 What's our takeaways from Psalm 12? 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:37.760 Well, I believe the first is this remember the word of God when you feel help, hopeless. 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:40.800 That is what this Psalm teaches. 00:34:41.679 --> 00:35:08.079 If you are feeling hopeless by the condition of this world, maybe you're just feeling hopeless because of your circumstances, your health, what you see on the media, maybe you're experiencing a tragedy, whatever it may be, remember that the Lord has promised to comfort you, to sustain you, to guard you, and to give you the security in which you long for. 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:14.880 So combat your hopelessness with the promises of God. 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:20.880 Stop trusting in your own abilities, your talents, your intellect. 00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:25.199 Stop trusting in money as if that would solve all your problems. 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:28.639 Stop trusting in the bottom of a bottle. 00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:32.400 Stop trusting in people who continually let you down. 00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:38.960 Don't trust in your own expectations on how you think the world should function. 00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:41.360 That's not up to you, anyways. 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:47.199 These things will not give you the comfort and the security that you long for. 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:51.840 These things only prolong our anxieties and our depression. 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:54.800 Trust in that which is pure. 00:35:55.199 --> 00:35:57.119 It's been tried and true. 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.719 The word of God. 00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:02.079 Write his word on your heart. 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:06.239 Treasure his promises deep within your soul. 00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.599 Memorize them. 00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:11.199 Let God's word be a lamp unto your feet. 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:17.280 Allow God's word to shape your feelings and your emotions, not the other way around. 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:20.400 Marinate yourself in the Word of God. 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:27.039 It is dependable and it provides the spiritual nutrients that you yearn for. 00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:33.119 And lastly, be reminded, church, that evil is not going anywhere. 00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:39.679 It's not going anywhere until Christ returns or he calls you home. 00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:43.280 God will make all things right one day. 00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:46.639 But in the meantime, here we are. 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:49.280 We're pilgrims passing through. 00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:55.440 We are citizens of heaven who are still in this sin-infected world. 00:36:55.920 --> 00:37:02.239 And as the world upholds rebellion, let us hold up the word of God. 00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:15.840 That we would declare it with our mouth, we'd live it out in our lives, hoping that some might turn and see the hope that is in us, Jesus Christ. 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:17.840 So, church, let us pray.