March 2, 2021 -- Psalm 5:9-10 -- Discerning what's around you

For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.

Psalm 5:9-10 English Standard Version

After the soaring words of verses 7 & 8 our text today seems like quite a come down. It is very damning against false flatterers and the forked tongue peoples all around. When you engage the text one thing you’ll notice is a sense of the dialogue—first between the Psalmist and God and then a sense of dialogue cataloguing something in the Psalmist’s own heart.

As the Psalmist recognizes there is no truth in their mouth and hears the false flattery of such people around him, he is making the distinction Psalm 1 spoke of—blessed are those who do not walk with the wicked or stand with sinners or sit with scoffers. A Psalm 1 man or woman, who desires to be blessed, carefully discerns the words and actions of the people all around. Sometimes you meet someone who seems well-intentioned, but the more time you spend, the more you realize how deep is their perfidy. When you hear and realize the wicked intentions of the heart and understand the speech for what it is, then leave that person and situation and delight in the Law of God.

Secondly, the Psalmist, in noting all these things is calling down the consequences of God on the heads and life of the transgressors. Why? Is it because he thinks he’s better? Not at all. Instead, the Psalmist realizes, unless one sees the full weight of his sin and knows how odious it is before God and the people of God, such a person will wade deeper and deeper into the foul sewage of his life. By allowing someone to see the consequences of their sin, to understand that sin is in fact sin, one is faced with a choice, either to go deeper or to cry out for help from God, Who displays the magnificence of His rescue story in Jesus Christ.

Great LORD, my King and my God, give me a discerning heart today so that I will recognize sin at its first appearance and when the first tendrils of temptation seek to entangle me at that exact moment by Your Word and Spirit help me to run from evil. Triune God of great compassion make the sinners all around bear their guilt so that they will be driven into Your arms for rescue. Thank You, Faithful God, that You delight to save in the powerful Name of Jesus. Amen.

https://youtu.be/9Yr48Berkqc