Psalm 12 (Listen)
12:1 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 neighbor;
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.
Devotional:
The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times (Psalm 12:6 CSB).
Psalm 12 has a lot to say about words. There are those who speak lies, flatter, boast, or think they will gain power over others by the words they speak. They exalt what is vile and evil (two words with the same four letters). The words of evil people can’t be trusted, but God’s words can be trusted. They are pure words — purified seven times. There is nothing vile or evil about God’s words. Therefore, we can trust the assuring words we find in verse 7 “You, O Lord, will guard us; you will protect us from this generation forever.” Evil will not deter God’s plan or destroy His people. May God’s pure words encourage you today.
Pray it: Father, I praise you for your pure and powerful words! Help me to listen to them and to live them out. Make my words pure and reflective of you. Amen.
Share it: Share a verse or thought from this passage with someone today.