To Tell the Truth

Read Psalms 9:1–12:8

1. Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!
2. Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.
3. May the Lord cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues.
4. They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”
5. The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”
6. The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.
7. Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation,
8. even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land. Psalm 12:1-8

As much as we favor honesty, falsehood can be terribly convenient. If you want to impress someone, a slight exaggeration of your various strengths and accomplishments may do the trick. Or if you want to get in the good graces of a person who has influence or status, flattery comes in handy. When you do something wrong, you know how natural it is to cover it up. Telling the truth can take conscious effort.

The words of Psalm 12 verify this fact. They also reveal that lying was just as much a problem in David’s time as it is today. But in all the deceit, there is hope—God is in control and will deal justly with those who make a lifestyle out of lying. What a great lesson to learn!

Other psalms in this reading contain encouraging news about how God responds to our cries for help (Psalm 9); his awareness of injustice (Psalm 10); and his sovereignty over wicked people (Psalm 11).

It seems as though each day we are bombarded with news stories about violence and perversity. This may lead us to think that lying and other forms of deceit are relatively harmless and less sinful. Psalm 12 makes it perfectly clear, however, that God does not overlook lies, flattery, or boasting. He hates all kinds of deceit and commands us not to use them (see Exodus 20:16).

Deception comes from a desire to cover up what should not be hidden. In this, our tongue can be our greatest enemy. Though small, the tongue can do great damage (see James 3:5).

Watch how you use your tongue. When you are tempted to deceive someone, remember that God hates lies. Strive to make your speech entirely truthful all the time for God’s glory.