Do you ever feel like you are alone in your spiritual convictions and alone in your passion and pursuit of God?In this Psalm David, the author, is at this place.
vs.1
Notice that David is not saying that he is surrounded by the ungodly but the godly.This isn’t a typical religious war cry against the wickedness that is in the world or even a plea for understanding because David is being wrongfully pursued by Saul.This Psalm is a Psalm of loneliness amongst God’s people.In application to today this would be the outcry that comes from within the walls of a church community, or from a Christian home . . . it can be applied to someone’s workplace where there are other individuals who claim to have similar beliefs and convictions about God.Basically, this Psalm is direct relating to individuals who find themselves to be the only faithful and devoted follower of God amongst any number of other God followers.Now, two words of warning before we get into this. One, this is not a passage that’s to be used to bolster someones personal preferences within a God following community.Two, David isn’t jumping to the conclusion that he’s the only one that is right and attempting to live righteously based on some flighty belief that has become an unmovable and unteachable conviction . . . so don’t look to this passage for that kind of support either.So, how do we know when we’re in similar circumstances and can make a similar claim?David offers us some hints to his experience that will often, if not always, be the telling signs of any group of self-proclaimed God followers who are living on the outside of God’s will.
vs.2 - Three hints are given here:
1) Idle Speech
- Idle Speech insinuates an attitude and by-in-part actions.
- This might be better described as a religious person who has a number of relationships with unbelievers but has no testimony of their relationship with God as well as no thoughts or plans to introduce this person to the Gospel.
- The greatest gift and the most beneficial truth you have to offer any relationship is the reality of a relationship with God.
2) flattering lips
- When is flattery a good thing? Think about it for a moment . . .
- Flattery, by it’s very definition is excessive and insincere praise with which there often is an ulterior motive.
- People flatter others for bad purposes . . . to get something out of them, deceive them, or cheat them.
- King Solomon must have endured a great deal of it at his court, because the Book of Proverbs, which he wrote, warns often against flattery. (e.g. Proverbs 26:28; 28:23; 29:5)
- This section of the text deals with our hearts motive and with the ugly side of politics within God followers relationships.
- Often the most damaging thing that you can do to an individual them is flatter them . . . and there are many forms of flattery that are damaging.
~ Allowing a person to continue in sin while acting as if nothing is wrong is flattery.~ Giving a person a responsibility which they are not gifted for is flattery.~ Going out of your way to please an individual above God is flattery.~ . . . and the list could continue.
- Needless to say we must be vigilant in our relationships, we must be faithful to God’s Word, and we must be obedient to God’s leading . . . even if it means an uncomfortable social situation.
3) a double heart
- This is another Hebrew idiom that appears so frequently in the Old Testament.
- The saying literally goes, “they speak with a heart and a heart.”
- Now this is an interesting one because the meaning of this idiom is so far reaching and each meaning applies.
- On one end the reader could apply this to the idea of double talk, meaning saying one thing to deceive while you do something completely different.
- Another application comes from the two faced approach to gossip, being nice to someones face while tearing their reputation to shreds to other people.
- There are a number of other applications that apply here . . . however I believe one of the most important has to do with word play, playing with truth.
~ Word play is one of Satan’s greatest weapons against God. We watch it happen in the garden and who can forget when it happens to Jesus in the desert.~ Same game, two different outcomes.~ Word play is a dangerous weapon because with it believers have very often found means for justifying their actions and/or inactions.
We’re going to build on this concept a little next week. For tonight I want to leave you with a word of encouragement and a challenge.
Challenge:
Who are you pursuing God’s work and will with? Are you doing it alone?If you feel alone in your godly opinions and pursuits while at the same time belonging to a local church and/or being in the company of others who profess to have your beliefs what are you doing about it? Prayer? Loving Confrontation?
Encouragement:
You’re not alone.1 Kings 19:9-18
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