Word Power

Psalms 12 & 13

Jim Davis

Word power and verbal skills are premium qualities in today’s world. We love effective persuasive communicators. We love those who have the skill to move people with words. We desire those who can effect change with words. 
We seek those skillful in articulating our theological positions. We seek those articulate enough to make people feel good about what they believe—feel good about themselves. We may even seek those who will tell us what we want to hear who are capable of making us believe it.
Nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself. ~  Ludwig Wittgenstei 

The most difficult person in the world to help is one who is self-deceived.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Whether within our own thoughts, spoken or written, words have the power to transform the world we live in.’

‘Love, laughter, heroism, friendship, and virtually every emotion we feel as human beings can be inspired by words. Unfortunately, fear, anger, and hatred, can also be invoked by words.”

James warns us of the destructive potential of the tongue.

James 3:2-6
If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. NIV

We know the power of words. WikiLeaks has countries shaking in their boots as they fear the release of misspoken words by heads of state. Those words may reveal the lack of confidence heads of states have in one another. Diplomacy may be set back decades as damage control takes center stage.

We live in an age where lies are no longer lies. Lies are rhetoric. Leaders make promises they know they cannot keep to move us to where they want us to go. We simply dismiss it as rhetoric. Yet, their words are designed to convince us they will do something they cannot do. Their words are designed to divide and conquer our minds. All the while their words suppress the truth. 

There are those who are capable of leading people to think whatever they want them to think as they deceitfully scheme. The Scriptures warn of those who seek to lead us astray. Paul speaks of those who serve themselves through smooth talk and flattery as they deceive the minds of naïve people (Romans 16:17-18). These are the kind of people who go from bad to worse as they deceive and are being deceived (2 Timothy 3:12-13). 

Churches today seek to build congregations with verbal skills. I spoke to an elder of a growing mega church; he indicated he wanted a message that made him feel good. Unity is sought through the power and skill of the tongue. We become so mesmerized by words we fail to allow God to work in and through us to bring about the needed changes. Somehow the work of the Holy Spirit is side-stepped for a euphoric high. We buy feel good books like a drug addict seeking drugs for a high. 

Rudyard Kippling said, “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.”

1 Corinthians 2:1-7
2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. 

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. NIV

The Tongue Rules

Biblical truth is designed to lead us out of a world of deceit. David’s relationship with God was built upon God’s covenant—God’s word—God’s promises. He was surrounded by those ruling with the power of their tongues. Their words were rising from impure hearts. David chose to focus on God’s flawless promises. 

Psalms 12:1-7
12:1 For the director of music. According to sheminith.  A psalm of David.

Help, LORD, for the godly are no more;
the faithful have vanished from among men. 
2 Everyone lies to his neighbor;
their flattering lips speak with deception. 

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips 
and every boastful tongue 
4 that says, "We will triumph with our tongues;
we own our lips — who is our master?" 

5 "Because of the oppression of the weak 
and the groaning of the needy,
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 refined in a furnace of clay,	
purified seven times. 

7 O LORD, you will keep us safe 
and protect us from such people forever. 
8 The wicked freely strut about 
when what is vile is honored among men. NIV

This is a dire description of the psalmist’s world. Sycophants rule with deception, flattering lips and boastful words as they oppress the weak and helpless. They seek to rule by the power of the tongue. The depth of moral deception leads the writer to conclude the godly have vanished—the faithful are no more. It seems David was no match for them, yet, David depended upon ONE whose words were as powerful as they were flawless. 

Psalms 12:6-7
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace of clay,	
purified seven times. 

7 O LORD, you will keep us safe 
and protect us from such people forever. 

David’s faith goes beyond carrying around a biblical scroll he believes to be inspired of the Holy Spirit. As David mediates on Scripture he seeks to understand Scripture in the context of his personal life. David mediates on God’s word as he seeks to survive in the here and now reality of life. He is surrounded by deceit and lies. Evil reigns. Rather than seeking to out talk his enemies, David reminds himself who is in charge. David reminds himself that God’s words are flawless. David understands that God will be flawless in fulfilling his promises to him. He doesn’t just meditate on God’s word to gain more knowledge—he mediates on God’s word to hold on to the hope God offers.  

Hebrews 6:16-20
16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. NIV

David takes courage. God’s promises allow him to anchor his hopes and dreams in God’s determination to salvage his life. He knows God’s nature is unchangeable. God doesn’t say yes today and no tomorrow. God’s words are not frivolous. The words of God are flawless—they are accurate—they are immutable. What God says will come to pass. God speaks with accuracy. When God speaks he means what he says. He always carries through with his purpose for our lives. He has the power to do so.  God’s word is his bond. He does not misspeak. God’s word is pure and unadulterated. His words come forth from his purity. God’s word is forever being actively fulfilled as he sustains our world. He will do what he has purposed and promised. It is impossible for him to do otherwise. God’s word is powerful for God is sovereign.

Reminding Ourselves of God’s Faithfulness

Jesus says, heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s promises will come to pass (Matthew 5:18). Although we know God is true to his word, trying times often lead us to entertain doubts about God as David does in Psalms 13. 

Psalms 13:1-6
For the director of music. A psalm of David.

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me? 
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts 
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me? 

3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; 
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation. 
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me. NIV

As David struggles with his enemies, his emotions are wavering. At times David is confident; then there are times when David feels as though God has forgotten him. As David entertains such thoughts he reminds himself of God’s unfailing love. David prays that God will give light to his eyes as he is overwhelmed with darkness. 

Psalms 13:3-4
3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; 
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 

David longed for the light of God’s deliverance. He longed for what Paul received in Corinth. 

Acts 18:9-11
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."  11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. NIV

Religion is something we practice; salvation is what we experience in life’s struggles. Salvation is what Paul experienced as God spoke to him in Corinth. Paul experienced God’s salvation in Asia also.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. NIV

Paul says God leads through trying times to bring us to this realization, “. . . this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” When this happens it gives those around us a reason to “give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” It gives all a reason to praise God.  

David was depending upon God to resurrect his life in the midst of an evil world. David reminds himself of God’s promise. God says: 

Psalms 12:4-5
5 "Because of the oppression of the weak 
and the groaning of the needy,
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 refined in a furnace of clay,	
purified seven times. NIV

David’s conclusion as he mediates is:

Psalms 12:7-8
7 O LORD, you will keep us safe 
and protect us from such people forever. 
8 The wicked freely strut about 
when what is vile is honored among men. NIV

Psalms 13:5-6
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation. 
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me. NIV

Conclusion:

Evil begins with lies. We can become so mesmerized by the world’s deception that we lose our sense of direction, even our sense of self. Hitler was an effective communicator. The influence of his words hurled the entire world into war. Those following him lost all sense of moral direction. Eve was led into sin by deceptive words. Satan’s words plunged the world into chaos; the chaos continues to devastate our world today. 

E. R. Beadle said, “Half the work that is done in the world is to make things appear what they are not.”

When you feel forsaken by God, remember Christians are living in the Kingdom of which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed. His God given dream is coming to pass in our lives through Jesus Christ at this very moment. Our future is as bright and flawless as Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar dream over 2500 years ago. Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar are long gone, but God has been true to his word. His words have been flawless and potent. These thoughts give light to our eyes. We are reminded that God is forever on his throne and his words are actively coming to pass in our lives this very moment.      

Coming to Christ is about experiencing salvation moment by moment as God works to salvage our lives. Salvation is about trusting God to work in our lives to accomplish his purpose for each of us. Ultimately God’s final goal is to reign with each of us in eternity. This is what he is preparing us for here on earth. 

Luke 18:29-30
29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."  NIV

1 Peter 3:10-12
"Whoever would love life 
and see good days 
must keep his tongue from evil 
and his lips from deceitful speech. 
11 He must turn from evil and do good; 
he must seek peace and pursue it. 
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous 
and his ears are attentive to their prayer, 
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. NIV