SERVING DILIGENTLY MIDST SPIRITUAL DECLINE
PSALM 12:1-8
Introduction: In this Psalm we have a loud cry to the Lord for help in the midst of spiritual decline. The golden age of a country materially may be a dark age morally. During the reign of David, Israel reached its height militarily, and yet here David bemoans it and sighs amid all its splendor. The True glory of a Nation lies in its moral fiber and not its military might. While wickedness increased, righteousness decreased. David regards his age as one of widespread hypocrisy, unfaithfulness, deceitfulness, and treachery.
The Psalm is divided into four parts of two verses each. In the first, the Psalmist pray to God concerning those who are sinning with their lips. In the second, he expresses his confidence that the Lord will deal with these. In the third, he has the Lord’s word for it and rejoices in the Word. And in the fourth, he rests in the Divine assurance, though realizing that trouble is still very much present.
There are three speakers in this Psalm. In verse 1-3, and 6-8 we hear the voice of the Saint. In verse 4 we hear the voice of the Sinner. And in verse 5 we hear the voice of the Saviour.
In the first four verses man is spoken of, and in the last four God is spoken of. It is easy to see how their words are contrasted.
Men’s words are the weapons of the Wicked. God’s words are the safety of the Saints.
Men’s words are Worthless. God’s words are Weighty
Men’s words are Flattering, False, and Fanatical. God’s words are Pure, Proven, and Preserved.
Men’s words Ensnare and Slay Men . God’s words Enlighten and Save men.
Men’s words Damn and Deceive men. God’s words Deliver, Direct, and Delight men
In a closer look at the Psalm, three important facts emerge. It is important that we learn the truths of the Psalm, because, in many respects the days of David parallel these in which we live.
I. UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS - Godliness has never been popular among the sons of men. Too many are looking for a Christianity without Christ. The problems in David’s day were the same as those in our day. There were six outstanding features of society at the time when this Psalm was written.
A. First Comparison of David’s Day: Compromise
1. “The Godly man ceaseth and the faithful man faileth.”
2. This fact is just as fresh at this very hour!!!
a. Where are those who once took a leading role in the Church?
b. Where are those who one taught a class or held an office?
3. There are two many “has beens” in the work of the Lord.
4. We are living in times of Apostasy. In times like these the faithful are in great danger of letting go of their grip of spiritual things and drifting with the tide of Compromise.
5. We see it on every hand. Men and women who once stood strong for the faith are now lost to the things of Christ.
6. One of the most discouraging things in the work of the Lord is to see folks give up.
a. To see faithful people become unfaithful.
b. To see good turn bad.
c. To see Strong people turn weak.
d. To see those that once stood for you turn and stand against you.
7. There has been a widespread defection from the faith once delivered to the saints. But these problems aren’t new. David had the same problem in his day.
8. They are like Demas of Paul said, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.”
9. There is a solemn warning in Rev. 3:11 to those are thinking about giving up after years of Faithful service. “Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
10. What do we have?
a. A Book that will Abide!!!
b. A Bride that will be Adorned!!!
c. A Blessed Hope that will Appear!!!
B. Second Comparison of David’s Day: Untruthfulness and Falsehood
1. Is this not also a feature of our times?
2. There aren’t many people that you can trust.
3. You can’t take anyone’s word anymore, not even church people.
4. Those that do not tell lies with their lips, live lies with their lives!!!
C. Third Comparison of David’s Day: Pride
1. This is another condemning mark of our day.
2. Pride is an awful sin. It keeps lost people from getting saved and saved people from full surrender.
3. It causes friction within the fellowship and rebellion towards the revealed word of God.
4. This generation is raising our children to be filled with pride.
5. All we here about it self-confidence and loving yourself. The word of God teaches that we need to die to self.
D. Fourth Comparison of David’s Day: Boasting
1. This is the direct result of Pride.
2. When a person gets filled with pride they feel that they are invincible and in need of nothing.
3. Three great mistakes are made by the wicked in their statement of vs. 4.
a. The Tongue of the wicked shall never prevail.
b. Their lips are not their own.
c. They are not their own masters.
4. The rich man in Luke 12 had the same problems. And when he got through with all of his boastful plans, the Lord still had the last say.
5. This wicked generation can laugh in the face of God and mock the word of God, but one day God will have the last say as he puts them in Hell.
6. You and I have nothing to boast in. We have no idea what tomorrow will bring. Prov. 27:1
7. We should be thankful that we can rest in the arms of the one that is in control of tomorrow!
E. Fifth Comparison of David’s Day: Wicked Men in Power - vs. 8
1. Around this world today, wickedness prevails.
2. It is almost impossible for an honest man to hold any type of public office.
3. The more crooked a man seems to be, the higher up he climbs.
F. Sixth Comparison of David’s Day: The Righteous were Oppressed
1. Goodness was treated with contempt.
2. When wickedness gets the upper hand in these ways, times are hard indeed for good and faithful men.
3. You can learn from the word of God about men that stood in these times of opposition.
a. Enoch walked with God while the rest of the world was eating, drinking and being merry.
b. Noah built an Ark and saved his household while the surrounding world was ridiculing and mocking.
c. Abraham had his eyes on a city whose builder and maker is God while the world was living for right now.
d. Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
e. Elijah stood alone against 850 false prophets.
f. Jeremiah wept alone over the sins of his people.
g. John the Baptist was beheaded for preaching against Adultery.
h. Paul was beheaded for preaching Christ Crucified.
4. All through the Word of God and History there were men that stood for God and suffered persecution.
5. The same is true today for those that are really standing for what’s right. The Fight has just begun.
6. “Yea and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” II Timothy 3:12
7. One common item in each of their lives. The Live holy and prayed fervently!!!
II. UNDENIABLE CALLING - VS. 1 “Help, Lord”
A. Trouble always moves Godly men to prayer.
1. It is hard to serve alone.
2. It is hard to stand when others run.
3. So when all around seemed to be faltering, David turns to the one who sticks closer than a brother and who
has never failed.
4. I’m so glad that in this wicked day in which we live we can lift our head toward heaven and cry “Help Lord.”
B. The Song writer had this very thought in mind when he penned these words: “Are you weary, are you heavy
hearted? Tell it to Jesus, Tell it to Jesus; Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone.”
C. David realizes that nothing but the immediate and powerful intervention of God will meet the crisis.
1. The same is true in our day.
2. If we expect to deal with the wickedness around us, it will have to be through the power of God working in and through our lives.
D. Notice David did not tell God how and when to work.
1. He simply laid the case before Him, knowing that God would not only know what to do, but also when and
how it should be done. David leaves the results to God.
2. That’s what you and I need to do with our lives and it’s surroundings. Simply lay them at the feet of Jesus
and let him get us through.
E. Although David was deeply concerned, he was not crying out in hopeless despair. Because “if we ask anything
according to his will, he heareth us.” I John 5:14
III. UNFAILING COVENANT - vs. 5
A. The Contents of the Covenant
1. When the Lord arise for a man, the victory is won.
2. When the Lord arises against a man, the battle is lost
B. The Value of the Promise - vs. 6
1. Silver is the emblem of purity.
a. “Purified seven times” means again and again until no trace of dross is left.
b. Seven is also the number of completeness and perfection.
2. There is not a trace of imperfection in any of the promises of the word of God. All are pure Gold.
3. This is why the writer of Hebrews wrote in Chapter 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith
without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.”
4. The unbeliever may reject it and the rationalist may deny it, but the child of God knows: “Faithful is he that
calleth you, who also will do it.” I Thess. 5:24
5. In dark times we can rely on God’s precious promises.
CONCLUSION: Even though we are living in dark days, don’t forget we have a Divine Deliverer. He saw David through his darkest hour, and he stand ready to do the same for you and me. The Greatest defense against wickedness is not only Divine work without but also Divine work within. Let the Lord fight you battles outside and let him give you the peace of God on the inside.
So in this Psalm we see: The Perfection of the Word, the Preservation of the Righteous, in spite of the Prevailing corruption.
