What do you use your words for?

 Psalm 12:1–8 (ESV): 

1  Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. 

2  Everyone utters lies to his neighbour; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 

3  May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, 

4  those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us"

5  “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” 

6  The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 

7  You, O Lord, will keep them; 

you will guard us from this generation forever. 

8  On every side the wicked prowl, 

as vileness is exalted among the children of man. 

What do you use your words for? 

Here the psalmist tells us, ‘everyone utters lies’, people have, ‘flattering lips’ and ‘a double heart’. Does this in any way describe you? No-one would like to categorise themselves like this, but if you are honest with yourself; do you lie, use flattery or say things you do not mean? Even if you think it is not important and maybe you only do these things in certain situations or with certain people this is still not what is considered, ‘godly’ or ‘faithful’ behaviour. 

Can you sense the author's frustration with people who behave in this way? David, who wrote this psalm, feels surrounded by people who do not display integrity in how they communicate, and he hates it. He states, ‘the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished’. When you are amongst people who lie, boast, flatter and say what they don't mean it is difficult to trust them. It is hard to make friends or get things done when those around you are not genuine. Hence David's frustration. Those who speak the truth and do not try to ingratiate themselves or elevate themselves through their communications are hard to find, but invaluable. You can trust people that are genuine, you can build with them as they will do what they say and say what they do, no more no less. Are you someone like that? and do you endeavour to invite people into your life who are like that? Or would you rather surround yourself with people who say whatever they think you want to hear rather than the truth? Sometimes the truth is hard to hear and so it is easier to have those that will just agree with you, but it won's ultimately do you any good and you could well end up feeling like David does and ask yourself "where have all the good people gone?"!

Do you appreciate and take guidance from people that you know are real, natural, honest and fair?Are you someone like that - speaking the truth without embellishment, flattery or hypocrisy? When you communicate with others do you realise that you demonstrate something of who you are and who God is to you? The Bible tells us the mouth is the overflow of the heart - so what do you display as you speak?

The Bible has lots of warnings and advice about how we communicate, in fact it is quite clear that there is an inherent problem with how we use speech. We are told that the tongue is easily used but difficult to tame. Therefore lies, flattery and contradictory words can spill out causing wickedness and harm. The Bible is full of instruction about how you and I speak, not just in this psalm. Do you take notice of it? 

The way you use words is important. Words have power. This is implied in verse 4 and the writer of Proverbs agrees, ‘The tongue has the power of life and death.’ (18:21). So what are you doing with the powerful instrument you have in your body? In Psalm 12 the words that are spoken are for selfish gain - lies, flattery and hypocrisy used to gain; influence, power, strength and opportunity. What are you using the power that you have within you to achieve? Are your words bringing life or death, and what do you want them to do? 

You have responsibility in what you say, and also the way in which you receive the words spoken to you. Times have not really changed since this psalm was written. People are still lying, unfaithful, hypocritical, boastful and flattering. There are some who are not - look out for them and get to know them. It is hard to know who to follow and who to trust. Yet there is One that you can always depend on, whose words, 'are pure words’. The words of God are the words you can always, absolutely, 100% trust. God will speak truth and life to you and over you - are you listening to Him? Do you allow God's words to influence your life and do you allow God to influence the way you speak? God knows words have power - He made the universe with them! Since creation God has given mankind some of His influence and power - what are you doing with it? 

God wants to help you to be a faithful steward, and this includes being godly and faithful in how you speak. Do you take notice of what God is trying to teach you? Are you aware of the power of your words? Your words can bring life and can destroy, they can build up and tear down - what are you using your words for?