Sermon – When Deception Seems To Be The Order of the Day
Scripture - Psalm 12:1-2 “Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3-4 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaks proud things, Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; Who is lord over us?”
5-6 “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.” The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.
7-8 You shall keep them, O Lord, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. The wicked prowl on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.”
Introduction: Once upon a time we agreed on the truth. We read the same newspapers, watched the same three channels of television programs, and discussed the same issues. While we didn’t always share the same belief systems, we agreed on a common understanding of what made the world tick. We agreed on the truth. Then came the internet, a virtually limitless source of information, some of it is useful and others are chaotic. Suddenly we had infinite amounts of media at our fingertips providing divergent points of view. While some were more accurate than others, all were competing for our attention. The internet began to consume our lives, disconnecting us from the degrees of personal connection in favor of soundbites and click bait. With no clear authority or standard of truth, people have become hesitant about nearly every institution governing the church, country and the world. Truth has become confusing at best or a matter of interpretation at worst. Deception is the order of the day in our world today.
David finds himself surrounded by deception. Deception is a tool in the hands of the enemy to lure anyone who has a love for the world (1John 2:5). David seemed surprised that so many could be caught in this vicious circle due to their love for flattery and their lack of discernment.
Both the Old and New Testament warns believers about the spirit of deception and the danger it posed. Many will be caught due to their lust for the things of the world rather than their love for God (1 John 2:16). What does "be not deceived" mean? Do not be deceived. This word deceived in the original Greek means to stray, to wander, to roam into error, to be led astray, or to deviate from the correct path or the truth. In Matthew 24, Jesus said to his disciples: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.” In Psalm 101:7, the psalmist says, “No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house. Then in Psalm 120:2, he prays, “Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”
Scholars cannot identify with certainty when Psalms 12 was written. Some say it was when David was fleeing from Saul or when David was fleeing from Absalom. Seeing the weakness, deceitfulness of men and considering the truthfulness of God, The psalmist David begs help of God, because there were none among men that he can trust.
1. If Deception Seems To Be The Order of the Day, the Cause is Crooked Men. Psalm 12:1-2 “Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
David boldly says out loud what many have pondered in their heart. This psalm furnishes good thoughts for bad times; a man may comfort himself with such meditations and prayers. Let us see what makes the times bad, and when they may be said to be so. Ask the children of this world, What makes the times bad? they will tell you, Scarcity of money, decline in trade, and the desolations of war, make the times bad: but the Scripture lays the badness of the times on causes of another nature.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 “3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
Perilous times shall come when sin abounds, and this was David’s complaint. When virtue decays times really are bad. God who made man's mouth will call him to an account for his proud, profane, misleading, or even useless words. When the poor and needy are oppressed, then the times are very bad. God himself takes notice of the oppression of the poor, and the sighing of the needy. When wickedness abounds, and is tolerated by those in authority, then the times are very bad.
2.When Deception Seems To Be The Order of the Day, Go To God In Prayer. Psalm 12:3-5 “May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaks proud things, Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; Who is lord over us?” “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”
Yet when times are bad first remember, we have a God to go to, from whom we may ask and expect an answer for all our grievances. Secondly, God will certainly punish and restrain false and proud men. Finally, God will work deliverance for his oppressed people. His help is given at the right time.
3. Deception Seems To Be The Order of the Day Remember God is True and His Word is Sure. Psalm12:6-8 “The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times. You shall keep them, O Lord, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. The wicked prowl on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.”
Though men are false, God is faithful; though they are not to be trusted, God is. The preciousness of God's word is compared to silver refined to the highest degree. How many proofs have been given of its power and truth! God will secure his chosen remnant; however bad the times are. As long as the world stands, there will be a generation of proud and wicked men. But all God's people are put into the hands of Christ our Savior; there they are in safety, for none can pluck them out. They are built on Him, Jesus Christ the Rock of Ages; they are safe, notwithstanding temptation or persecution come with ever so much force upon them. God can be trusted to keep His Children safe. The Word of God is God’s standard of truth.
Truth matters, both to us as individuals and to society as a whole. As individuals, being truthful means that we can grow and mature, learning from our mistakes. For society, truthfulness makes social bonds and lying and hypocrisy break them. Even though Deception Seems To Be The Order of the Day because of wicked systems and crooked men, Believers must take those concerns to God. These perilous times did not catch God by surprise. He prepared for days like these. We must guard our hearts and minds so that no man can deceive us. Then we must rely on the truth of God’s word. Study it, Know it and live as light in this dark generation. His word, empowered by the Holy Spirit is all we need to stand firm in the truth. Amen
