PSALM 12 ILLUSION AND REALITY

Written by , Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
 
¹ Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
² Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.
³ May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue
⁴ that says, “We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips—who is our master?”
⁵ “Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
⁶ And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.
⁷ O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.
⁸ The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

In this world of lies, standing for the truth is not only unpopular, but isolating. One who is isolated is vulnerable, subject to physical attack from others and doubts from within. When the prevailing game is lie, cheat, steal, win, and you refuse to play, is there a place for you in the world?

God himself answers that question for us with an absolute “Yes.” God has placed us in this world and given us the word of truth by which we are to live. We are not alone and we are protected by the One who has already won the victory over evil and deceit. Words of truth are words of reality, while lies are the smoke and mirrors of illusions, and with a shift in the wind they are gone.

We have received from God the ultimate test of the truthfulness of our words. What effect do they have on the weak and needy of our community? The false words of the world are always self-serving no matter their professed intent. The words of truth always express God’s will which is inherently other-centered, and specifically directed toward the need of the other. In the Incarnation, God’s Word has been revealed as self-sacrificial and necessary to meet the ultimate needs of all human beings.

Almighty God, the Source of all Truth, keep me in your truth so that I do not succumb to the supposed easy and safe path of falsehood and lies, but am ever vigilant to root out any untruth in my speech. Give me the heart to speak the truth in love and be ever an encouragement to those in need. Amen.