For many people, lying may not be such a big deal. We may think that everyone tells a lie now and then, and that generally they don’t do any harm to anyone. Sometimes lying can be very hurtful. They can damage a person and their reputation, and can destroy lives. We see some of this in our psalm today written by David, about some of his lying enemies.
Throughout his life, David had many enemies, and those who wanted to bring him down, both before he became king, and certainly afterwards. Though he was a skilled warrior, and knew how to conduct guerrilla-type fighting, especially out in the wilderness areas, David always put his trust in the Lord to protect him. At the time of the writing of this psalm, he was being falsely accused of some wrongdoing. Whoever this particular enemy was, they wanted to take David down, and they were spreading lies about him in order to do so.
In the time of this trouble, as he always did, David turned to God in prayer. As he came to God, he proclaimed to the Lord that what he was saying to Him was not a lie, that his lips were not deceitful, and that he was not in the habit of spreading lies around (vs. 1). Other people, particularly those who were coming against him, were liars, but he wasn’t, and he prayed that God would vindicate him (vs. 2). David saw God as the eternal Judge, and that He saw and observed everything that was happening to him, so he prayed that God would proclaim him innocent of the lies told against him.
As David continued his prayer to God for His help, he made a promise, a vow and pledge to the Lord that he would not sin by what he ever said (vs. 3). He purposed and resolved that his mouth would not transgress. David did not want to sin or offend in any way by what he said. That would include lying, but also gossip, cursing, and crude, off-color speech. As believers, that is something that we should also purpose. Followers of the Lord Jesus should always be careful of what comes out of their mouth.
David also wanted to make sure that in every other area of his life there would not be anything that could be brought against him. Of course he knew that he wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t want a whole list of faults that could be brought against him, things that he hadn’t confessed and found forgiveness for (vs. 3). David knew he was accountable to God. He feared Him, and when he sinned he repented and called out to God for help. His relationship with God was one of close fellowship, and constant repentance and forgiveness.
When he prayed to God, David knew that those prayers wouldn’t be in vain, or a waste of his time. God delights in those who trust Him. They are the object of His special devotion (vs. 8). This wasn’t something that was unique, just for David. We, too, can find protection and shelter in His presence, just as he did.
As our psalm continues, David described his enemies as acting like lions, crouching and ready to tear him to pieces (vs. 11-12). We may sometimes feel as if our enemies are like lions in how they attack us! The Bible describes our greatest enemy, Satan, as a lion. Satan comes as a roaring lion, seeking whom he will destroy (I Peter 5:8). He is the enemy of every child of God.
These enemies of David weren’t concerned about God, about His judgment, nor about what they may face in the next life (vs. 14). That marked a difference between David and them, and should also mark a difference between the Christian and the unsaved. David’s enemies, and the unsaved in general, look for their reward in life to be given them here and now. They did not think they would be held accountable for anything. The believer and follower of the Lord Jesus looks for their rewards in the next life.
The true goal of life is to know God, and the true reward of life is to see God one day (vs. 15). This is one thing that David truly believed in. There is coming a day when we will see Jesus as He is, and we will be transformed into His Image (I John 3:2). Our desire should be to see God’s Face, and to be like Him.
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