Godly Men
Good Morning,
Psalm 12:1 “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.”
(Before reading on, I suggest that you read the chapter, and then come back to read the outline below. Reading the chapter uninterrupted will be more valuable than in pieces as it is here.)
David tells of the longing in his heart: "…for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men..."
"Help, Lord!” David cries, showing the desperate state of the nation when there are so few godly people. The need is great! How can a nation survive without godly and faithful citizens? So, David cries out to God for help.
The absence of godly people in his kingdom bothered David and was a burden to his heart. David goes on to clarify his statements (in case someone missed the point). We often lift up people who have few true godly characteristics, so David elaborated on the subject.
Psalm 12:2 "They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.”
The words of a man are telltale signs of the condition of his heart. Vanity and flattery will identify the unfaithful and godless. If one’s words are vain, the vain heart from which the words proceed is revealed, whether or not he attends church. How many carnal and even evil words and actions are found among the churchgoers of a nation? The need is for believers to cry out to God for help and to give us people who are godly and faithful.
Psalms 12:3 “The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:”
What is it that the Lord will cut off? The flattering lips and proud words. How does the Lord further describe these men who are ungodly and unfaithful?
Psalm 12:4 “Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?"
These people use words to achieve their evil deeds; they spread partial truths and sow discord (Proverbs 6). They say, “…With our tongue will we prevail…” Their careful use of words will help them get their way, not their careful use of godliness or faithfulness.
These people also have a unifying character trait - they do not like authority.
Psalm 12:4 "...our lips are our own: who is lord over us?"
The shout from the heart of the ungodly is "Who shall reign over us?" Or "Who is lord over us?” It is seen in the book of Jude, verse 8, that these men "despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." This same scenario was displayed when Saul was crowned king:
1 Samuel 10:27 “But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.”
1 Samuel 11:12 “And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.”
The heart of David was often touched by evil men, both among friends and among family. How sad that people cannot do their jobs and honor their God and country in a faithful and godly manner.
We can see several traits in people whom we ought to avoid: ungodly, unfaithful, flattering, and the proud. In most cases, the evil is revealed in words that are divisive, spiteful, and from lives that are unfaithful and ungodly.
May we all cry out to God to send us faithful and godly men, both in our homes and in churches and government.
Pastor