Psalms 12:1-8 NLT
Help, O Lord , for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!
Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts. May the Lord cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues. They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”
The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”
The Lord ’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.
Therefore, Lord , we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.
PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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This passage was our family’s Life Application devotional for this morning. It takes an especially strong meaning on a morning of family absence and loss.
Yes, the godly are fast disappearing.
Ask me if I rejoice for those that are absent from the body and with God (2 Corinthians 5:8), and my voice will reply truthfully yes.
But ask me if I mourn with my family and with all who mourn the absence of a loved one, and my heart cries out with a voice so strong that I am overcome, with tears and groaning that written, or even spoken, words will not capture.
And yes, we will be surrounded by empty, but well intentioned words from those who both are and aren’t a part of our lives, but who see the circumstances of this season of our lives. And there are even those who will use flattery and deceit, because being purely of this world that is the only way they know how to behave.
But what is important right now is that this promise He gives us. It is true. He does rescue us as we have longed for Him to do.
Those of us whose bodies of flesh have worn out from our lives walking and loving and serving and raising families – when the burden of this fleshly body can no longer hold back this new creation from being reunited with our Lord and Savior in fullness of His glory and grace and honor and power. And He rescues us, drawing the unperishable out from inside its perishable vessel.
We know with full confidence, Lord, that you are faithful. We know with full confidence, Lord, that you preserve and protect your children. Let us use our time that we have in these fleshly vessels to continue your work, to fulfill your purpose, until these bodies wear out and your promises are fulfilled in their fullness.
Let us see past the evil and wicked and proud ways of mankind around us, and see their chains – let us see their desperate need for this grace and healing and renewal that only comes through Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. And use us to share this Hope, Faith, Love, and Truth so they might recognize your voice and accept your grace.
I love you, friend. But my love by itself would fall so short of the love that we each need to know personally in our lives. This love I share is not just my own love, but it is the love of Jesus Christ, of God come in the flesh, reaching out to touch our lives today, so that we might accept this truth, believe and be saved, hold tight to our faith and be fruitful, share love and see others strengthened and encouraged, and share truth so that others too might be prepared for that day, when the imperishable is called out from the perishable.
His promises are true.
Do you know Christ dearly and closely today, friend?
Is he alive in your heart and in your day ahead.
We only get one today, one opportunity to serve the purpose that He has for our lives today.
Our lives can either be an example to others of His way down the narrow path – or an example to others of our own way, stumbling into darkness.
What example are we setting for those around us that watch our lives? Are our words and actions and decisions leading others around us into the place that we want them to go? Are we leading them into light or into darkness?
Help us, Lord, in your strength to live the life today so that others might see your light, your love, your mercy, your grace, and your truth.
Harold J. Ballinger 