444_Man’s words vs God’s words

Psalm 12 Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

5 “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the Lord;
“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
6 The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.

7 You, O Lord, will keep them;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

In the early 1940s, World War II was crushing Europe. A young German pastor named Dietrich Bonhoeffer stood before his small underground congregation. The Nazi propaganda machine was in full force, filling the airwaves with lies, half-truths, and a twisted version of morality that exalted power, crushed dissent, and redefined evil as good. In the face of that cultural pressure, despite the danger, Bonhoeffer boldly declared, “The Word of God is a sword, and it cuts through every lie.”

Psalm 12 reflects not just David’s world, but that of today. Truth is scarce, flattery is a currency, and words are crafted to conceal, deceive, manipulate, and dominate, rather than to bless or heal. In such a world, God’s Word remains the only trustworthy anchor.

The psalm begins with a cry of desperation: “Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.” Evil seems so widespread, so unchecked, that it feels like there’s no one left to stand for what is right. Yet there are always those, like the 7,000 in Elijah’s day, who haven’t bowed their knees to Baal—but they are in hiding. As Proverbs 28:28 puts it, “When the wicked rise, people hide themselves.”

In this atmosphere, truth-speaking seems to be almost extinct. “Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.” These aren’t meant to politely pass over unpleasant realities or make the other person feel better when faced with embarrassment. These are calculated distortions and carefully planned flatteries. They arise from a double heart that says nice things to one’s face but conceals cruel and destructive motives.

Whether in politics, media, business, or religious circles, words are denied their only true function, of being vessels of truth. They are used as weapons to influence and oppress others. Sound bites and spin are more powerful than facts. Image trumps substance. “With our tongue we will prevail,” they say. “Our lips are with us; who is master over us?” These words reflect arrogant independence, a belief that the speaker reshapes reality with clever speech and persuasive rhetoric. The tongue becomes an idol.

But the Lord is not silent. Verse 5 reminds us, “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” God’s justice may seem delayed, but it is never absent when the weak are trampled and the helpless cry out.

All of Scripture echoes this. Proverbs 22 warns us not to rob the poor or crush the afflicted, for “the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.” Again, Exodus 22 makes it clear: if a widow or an orphan cries out because of mistreatment, His anger will burn, and He will execute swift judgment. These are not idle threats. They are promises rooted in the holiness and compassion of God.

But the focus here is not on God’s actions alone, but also His words. In stark contrast to the lies and flattery of man, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” This image is emphatic. It speaks of utter purity, robust truth, unalloyed integrity. God’s Word doesn’t just contain truth; it is truth. There is no deceit, no error, no exaggeration. It has been tested, tried, and found to be perfectly trustworthy.

Proverbs 30:5 affirms this: “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” God’s Word demands our trust, and those who believe his truth find shelter and safety from the barrage of falsehoods that surrounds them. It guards our hearts and minds from being deceived, discouraged, or defiled by the lies we constantly hear.

Therefore Psalm 119:140 declares, “Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.” It was not the beauty of the language or the magic virtue of its recitation that prompted this. Rather, the one who trusts God’s promise enough to act on it, to stake their lives on it, will realize God’s truthfulness is time-tested and proven. They find in it the only sure foundation in a world of sinking sand.

Moreover, Psalm 19:8 tells us that “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” The truth of God’s Word underpins its essential rightness, in contrast to the subtle or overt wrongness of merely human conceptions and plans. Because it is right, it brings clarity out of confusion. Because it is pure, reflecting God’s heart, it lights the true path amidst the darkness of sin and mixed motives.

In Psalm 12:7, the psalmist rests in this assurance: “You, O Lord, will keep [Your words]; you will guard us from this generation forever.” God’s Word will not be corrupted, compromised, or forgotten. He will preserve both his word and His people who trust in it even when lies seem louder than truth.

The closing verse offers a sobering reality: “On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.” When evil rulers dominate society and government, cultural and moral standards evaporate.

In the middle of such chaos, let us recognize the difference between man’s words and God’s Word. Let us not be led astray by flattery, catchy slogans, or noisy new trends. Instead, let us prayerfully understand the word of our God. Let us memorize it so that its meaning may permeate our attitudes and determine our actions. Let us evaluate every opinion, every trend, every philosophy, not by its popularity or power, but by its agreement with the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

Let us also be honest with ourselves. Let us never rely on our words to manipulate or protect ourselves. Let us never flatter others to gain favor or spin half-truths to save face. Let His Word confront us. Let us purify ourselves by the washing of God’s Word so that we are protected against lies and prevented from being part of the problem.

Let us be bold in our faith, knowing that we are standing on firm ground because we hold by God’s word. Even in the most dangerous of times, we are witnesses to the truth of the Word that never fails. And as we remain faithful unto death, we shall receive the crown of life.

For “the grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8). Let us trust him, stand on his word, speak it, and let it shape our lives.