“Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbour; their flattering lips speak with deception” (Psalm 12:1, 2)
It is hard to actually read these words which were spoken by King David more than 2000 years ago and not identify today’s world with the picture that they paint. Not surprising for his son Solomon, the teacher writing in Ecclesiastes sates: “Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.” (3:15)
King David called on the Lord’s help on the ground that the godly were no more. What is godliness? I like to think of godliness as meaning God’s likeness. Apostle Paul calls followers of Jesus Christ to godliness by exhorting them to be imitators of God, as dearly loved children…. (Ephesians 5:1) Apostle Peter does the same thing by exhorting Christians to “be holy as he [God] who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do (1Pet. 1:15).
Remember, godliness is God’s likeness: a godly person is someone who is like God in action and attitude, someone who imitates God. Therefore, it is not surprising that king David’s next statement is: “the faithful have vanished from among men.” Faithful is one of the attributes of God, hence Isaiah refers to him as “the faithful one of Israel” -God says what he means and means what he says. He is obligated to his word! Hence, we ought to take his word and promises seriously.
See, it is impossible to find “the faithful” where “the godly” are no more. Accordingly, King David continuing to speak his observation said: “Everyone lies to his neighbour; their flattering lips speak with deception.”
John 8:44 comes to mind. The Lord Jesus speaking to the Jews who were bragging that they were children of Abraham sates, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Suddenly, I realize the seriousness of the situation and why King David felt compelled to call on God for help. I pray that we will do the same in our generation! Please understand that being godly does not mean being religious. Those who opposed Jesus to the extent of threatening to stone him were religious, but he called them devil’s children. I am sure there were religious peoples around him, yet King David, inspired by the Spirit of God, said “the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.”
Lord help us see our world as it is, and ourselves as we are, in your sight so that we can rightly pray, in Jesus’ name!
