Pure words preserve the godly man – Psalm 12
So I was working on memorizing Psalm 12.6, thinking I wonder what the rest of the psalm says (what’s the context). As I read the entire psalm, I saw the significance of this verse and the profound reason that we must cling to the pure words of God.
Psalm 12 1 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? 5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. 6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. 8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
Our tongues are deadly. The godly man falls into sin when we fail to honor the lord when we don’t control our tongues. The Psalm is not talking about mean words or cursing, but about using our words to flatter and manipulate people. In the same vein, we think that with our words, we can excuse and sidestep our responsibilities to others by falsely justifying our actions. We use our words to convince ourselves and others that we are doing what is necessary.
The psalmist reminds us that though we may not be able to depend on our words or the words of others, we can depend on the Word of God. The word of God is time-tested. A silver tried in a furnace of earth. Indicating a hotter-than-normal fire, a more prolonged fire than one can get with a surface fire or even an oven. These words can be relied on to preserve the godly man teaching him to rely on God’s word, because they are pure of false motives rather than relying on his ability to manipulate his own words with flattery and hidden motives.
Oh God of heaven and the creator of all, thank you for preserving your words that we might learn from them the path to a godly life, one rich in listening to your words.