Psalm 12: When Christians Don't Stand Up For Christ, Evil Triumphs

Psalm 12:1  To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. 

The word translated "Help" literally means to be saved in battle and made victorious, or to be delivered from one's enemies.

In this text, David seeks some mighty help from Jehovah, as he frequently does.

In reference to the "godly man ceaseth", it seemed to King David that ungodly men prevailed on every side, when he wrote the Psalm.

We can all identify with David's sorrow over a lack of godly, upright men and women whom God can use to make a wonderful difference in our culture.

It certainly seems to be the same today when we observe all the vile, hateful speech posted on social media platforms.

It seems that those with the loudest voices today are those who advocate for violence against our elected leaders and the institutions that undergird a stable society.

It is interesting to see how our culture uses acronyms as labels to describe certain types of people.

For example, a RINO is a Republican in name only, because they claim to be Republicans, but they reject conservative principles of limited government, lower taxes and fiscal responsibility. 

In that light, let me introduce another acronym: PINO which refers to a pastors in name only.

A PINO is a pastor who claims to know Christ, but refuses to live by the truth of His gospel.

Such a pastor will not preach against sin, will not teach God's standards of sexuality and morality to his people and will not preach that God is going to judge sinners and send them to Hell. 

These pastors advocate rebellion against our leaders because they disagree with them, even though Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-5, Titus 3:1-6; 1 Peter 2:13-17, clearly tells us our civic duties with regard to authorities.

PINOs are prevalent in American churches and because their social justice crusades reject Biblical truth, they gain support from corrupt media.

I say these things to you, to help us understand how King David felt as he surveyed the landscape of his culture in ancient times.

David cried out for help from God because godly men seemed to have disappeared and wicked men seemed to prevail.

How do we define a godly man or woman?

A godly man is one who received grace and mercy from the Lord by repentant faith in Jesus Christ. 

A godly man has experienced the pardon and mercy of God. 

He has had grace, goodness and holiness worked into him by the ministry of God's Spirit with His Word.

A godly man or woman is one who has a reverent fear of God, who seeks to serve Him rightly in accord with His Word, and who loves the LORD with fervent hope.

The godly man or woman lives a life that is radically changed by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, such that they walk in newness of life with Christ.

Psalm 12:2  They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 

The Holy Spirit moved David to tell us what kind of people seemed to prevail over godliness in his day.

They are people who claim to speak for God, but they offer only their own foolish thoughts and wicked words.

They speak using flattery and deceit to gain approval or acceptance with the people, but behind the cloak of lies from their lips is a double heart.

Psalm 86:11-12  Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. 12  I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. 

A double heart is one who loves God and the world. Jesus said we cannot love God and mammon (See Matthew 6:24).

King David recognized this same tendency in his own heart so he prayed for the LORD to unite his heart, so that he maintained a singular focus upon the things of God.

Colossians 3:1-2  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

This reminds us that we too, must ask the LORD to unite our own heart and to give us a single minded focus upon Great Commission living.

This is what the apostle Paul meant when he exhorted us to set our affection on the things of God above, where Christ is enthroned in heaven.

When our focus is right, everything down here falls into its proper place in our lives. 

Psalm 12:3  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? 

Jehovah will cut off, meaning He will judge, condemn and consign to Hell, all liars and deceivers and haters of God and men.

Their rebellious hearts say that they will prevail over all things with their lying, hateful words, and they arrogantly assert that no one is lord over them.

However, God will prove He is LORD over them when He measures out judgment upon the wicked, and they will not speak a word against Him.

Psalm 12:5  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. 

God always exercises special care for widows, the poor, the oppressed and the orphaned children (See Leviticus 14:28-29; 24:17-21).

Thus, here the LORD says He will indeed arise as David requested, because His eye is upon the poor, widows and orphans are oppressed.

Psalm 12:6-8  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.  

David reminds us of the beauty, majesty and eternality of the scriptures.

What God says and recorded in scripture is the purest of all pure things.

There are no impurities in His Word and hence, no need for purification.

God promised to preserve His Word and His people forever.

God is an eternal being and His Word is also everlasting. It is an unchanging, immutable holy standard given by God to mankind for our good.

The scriptures contain the words of life, necessary to our salvation, and all who repent and trust Jesus Christ, shall be born again and receive eternal life.

This Psalm ends by putting the godly person in contrast with what happens when the wicked are unopposed.

Faithful pastors must preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If they fail at the holy calling God gave them, then the wicked will be exalted and permeate our culture with depravity and corruption.

Individual Christians must also live in accord with the gospel and share it with other people, for if we do not engage in Great Commission living, then the wicked are unopposed. 

Wherever we work, shop, go to school, do chores, or in our neighborhood, we must always be ready to share the gospel.

We must train up our children in the truth of God's Word, seeking to lead them to repentant faith in Christ.

The church does not need more programs or activities.

The church just needs to remember what Jesus taught and to submit to Him.

Bob