Kept Safe

DEVOTION

PSALMS

KEPT SAFE

 Ps 12

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.

NIV

It almost sounds like there will be a great falling away from within the church. If the godly are no more and the faithful have vanished from among men, it seems this is talking about those who were once enlightened,

Heb 6:4-6

4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away , to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

NIV

The vanished faithful or the godly that are no more could also speak about those who get saved by fall away when times get tough.

Luke 8:13

13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away 

NIV

Both of these two types of believers become conceited with their own words, their own form of religion and traditional practices. Some have fallen prey to the lies. They listen to the lips that flatter, but are nothing more than a deception. We merely have to tune to some of these mega television churches to hear them. Not that all are filled with lies and deception, but with the discernment of the Spirit, it is easy enough to spot them. But they are not the only ones who are in danger, for right within the local church there is danger. There is teaching which is from the lips of men rather than from God. Again we need to rely on the Spirit, to test everything.

1 Thess 5:19-22

19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.

NIV

God will judge the unjust, the liar, the deceiver, the false teacher and preacher. God will judge those who honor their own words over his, even when they are talking about the scriptures. They think their intellect, their knowledge, their education makes them worthy, and they honor themselves. But God will protect us, he will put a shield around us, keeping us safe from those who would malign. They words have flaws, but God’s words are flawless, his words are perfect and true. Because we are in Christ and have the Spirit dwelling within us, we will keep step with the Spirit.

Gal 5:25-26

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

NIV

The wicked may strut about with all their self-ordained worthiness thinking themselves better than the honored vile acts of men. But they are committing the vile acts themselves by strutting about, being filled with pride and arrogance. God will protect us from all of them. He will guide and direct our path for he is our light, our salvation, our fortress, our shield, our ever present help in trouble. He is our rock, our refuge, in him will remain and be kept safe.