- araratchurch
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. There they are in great fear, For God is with the generation of the righteous.”
Psalms 14:1, 5 NKJV
Many years ago, I was sitting in my office looking across the desk at a young woman I had known all her life. She was brought up in a Christian home and recently had entered college. I didn’t know the reason she had asked for the meeting, so I sat there waiting to hear what was on her heart and mind.
Now, on the one hand, I did not expect what was to come out of her mouth. But on the other hand, what she said was so tragically cliché, I wasn’t really surprised after all.
To explain, as she sat there with a rather “set” look on her face, she informed me that now—having gone to college where she was interacting with “intelligent people”—she now realized she “knew too much” to believe in God.
I said that in one way I did not expect what I heard, because I knew her upbringing.
Additionally, for me, denying God‘s existence would be something akin to saying my parents never existed—or better yet—that I do not exist. I know Him. I know He exists. With that, I said that I wasn’t really surprised by this young woman’s “discovery” because I have seen many young people go to college—or even seminary—and come out saying they no longer believe in God.
First of all, this phenomenon has a lot to do with the carnal nature of man, the desire to fit in, and the desire to live a life free of restraint. Additionally, this also says volumes about our educational system. Many teachers and professors are the product of decades of education that is hostile to God. And how better to express your hostility to God than by ignoring Him?
Whatever the reason someone may not believe in God, it is a fool’s errand to try to deny the existence of the Almighty God and Creator.
I like what the Apostle Paul has to say about people who do not believe in God:
“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.”
Romans 1:20-25 NLT
Notice how Paul illuminates the foolishness of those who have chosen their own “god” and become idolaters, with this little statement: “Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.”
In today’s portion from David’s Psalms, we see David contemplating on the foolishness of those who go their own corrupt ways, all the while denying God‘s existence. He deftly notes—as he often does—the fact that the error of the wicked will be dramatically pointed out to them by a close encounter of the “destructive” kind, experienced by all those who continue to reject the reality of God.
God proves Himself to us every time we take a breath, with every beat of our heart, and through everything around us, from the subatomic level to the great beyond.
So, don’t allow the error of foolish people who deny God to get you down. The day is just around the corner when this will happen:
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:10-11 NLT
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
Fools may try to deny God’s existence, but He will not be ignored forever.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
100 Days with David 2025 Day 19: People often speak deceitfully. However, God’s word is always true.
- araratchurch
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
“They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak. The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.”
Psalms 12:2, 6 NKJV
I can remember watching westerns (the content of which would now be very politically incorrect) where a Native American (then referenced as an Indian) would say something along the lines of: “White man speaks with forked tongue.” As you may know, what this means is that a person is speaking in a way meant to deceive. (We also used to say, “speaking out of both sides of your mouth.”)
Actual forked tongues are a common feature among reptiles. You see, reptiles use their tongues to “smell,” and the forked tongue is useful for detecting the direction in which they will find their prey.
OK, I’m going to say it: People who speak with a forked tongue are also looking for “prey.” Indeed, they look to do any number of self-serving things, from manipulating others to taking advantage of others. But whatever their goal, you can be sure that their deceitful words are means to the end of furthering their agenda.
This scripture from Proverbs is often quoted without the full context:
“Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, Or desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates]. He says to you, “Eat and drink,” Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost].”
Proverbs 23:6-7 AMP
Now, it is true that what a person is thinking on the inside of themselves is who they actually are. But, this proverb was meant to put forth the warning that you have to be careful of people who say one thing, meaning another; or who say one thing, but are using deceit to control in some way or another.
Another proverb instructs the listener to not be “that person,” to not be the one who speaks deceitfully:
“Put away from you a deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth, And put devious lips far from you.”
Proverbs 4:24 AMP
In today’s portion from David’s psalms, we see that David had had his fill of people speaking with forked tongues. But—as he always does—he contrasts God’s way of being and doing with man’s ways. In this case, he contrasts the deceitful tongues of many men, with the pure tongue of the Lord. He references the Lord’s word as being purified like silver. In other words, just as purified silver has no dross, the Lord’s word has no deceit.
In this psalm, said to have been sung by David when the Lord delivered him from Saul and his other enemies, David expresses the same theme of the purity of God’s word:
“As for God, His way is blameless. The word of the Lord is tested [it is perfect, it is faultless]; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.”
Psalms 18:30 AMP
Now, I can pretty much know that you have dealt with your share of “forked tongues.” The first thing I will say is, make sure you are not one of “those people.” And as for those who do speak deceitfully, look out for them! Even (and especially) when they are speaking flattering words to you.
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
People often speak deceitfully, but God’s word is always true.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
“Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak. You shall keep them, O Lord, You shall preserve them from this generation forever.”
Psalms 12:1-2, 7 NKJV
One of the strategies used by people desiring to marginalize those with whom they disagree is that of making them feel that they are in the minority. Leading the opposition to believe that no one is standing with them, is meant to intimidate and silence them, making them fear reprisal or outright rejection.
More than once, I have personally seen someone in a group giving a very strong opinion not held by most of the other people in the group; yet, they control the narrative by intimidating anyone who would dare say something in opposition to their position. It’s sad how many times that strategy works when nobody wants to disagree.
The ultimate expression of marginalizing those with whom you disagree is making them the “bad guy,” a “hater” of those with whom they disagree.
Because decent people don’t want to be seen as being mean-spirited, and/or risk some sort of punishment, you can find those who know right from wrong, and want to do what is right, ending up in a so-called silent majority.
I am currently seeing very perverse groups in our society—with extremely radical and evil agendas—making a full-throttled attempt at smacking down the righteous through relentless intimidation and marginalization.
Make no mistake, just because the righteous have been silenced, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t out there. But, unless the righteous find their strength in the Lord, they may allow widespread evil to cause them to grow cold. Indeed, such is prophesied as being a phenomenon in the Last Days before the return of Jesus Christ:
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
Matthew 24:12 NKJV
Additionally, feeling that you are alone in the fight for the right, can cause depression, despair, and despondency, as the prophet Elijah found out in the wake of Jezebel’s threatenings:
“So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
[The Lord speaking:]
“Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.””
I Kings 19:13-14, 18 NKJV
In today’s portion from David’s psalms, we see that King David is lamenting the seeming scarcity of righteous people. But—as he always seems to do—after presenting his argument, he affirms that the Lord will be with the righteous, no matter how many, or few, are left.
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
The enemy tries to discourage the righteous by making them think that they are the only one left desiring to do what is right. But, no matter how few righteous are left, the Lord will defend them.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!