WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: Think of an incident in the last week when you noticed a disconnection between someone’s words and their actions (it might be your own!). Observations The psalmist is reflecting on what he sees going on around him. He notices the decline in those who believe and trust in God. He observes the way lies and deceit have taken a grip in his culture, becoming the norm. He obviously encounters people who think they can talk their way out of anything. What do you notice in your culture? Are there any similarities? It is good for us to be observers of what is going on and to critique it in the light of God’s character and Word. Truth and lies Honest and trustworthy talk seems to be in short supply today. Some would say that they assume they are being lied to in most circumstances: in commerce, business, local and national government, and, sadly, often in personal relationships. This erodes trust. In contrast, the second half of the psalm considers the God who can be trusted. His words are pure and entirely match his actions. In the midst of deception there is one who is true to his word. Note the ‘hinge’ verse in the psalm, verse 5, which focuses on God’s care for the downtrodden. Those who suffer most in cultures where corruption has taken a grip are the poor and marginalised. Respond: ‘Lord, help me to stand against corruption wherever I see it – especially when it is in me. Amen.’ http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-03-18