People often speak deceitfully, but God’s word is always true. - Day 19

“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;” they look to manipulate, take advantage of, and further their agenda through deceitful words!

“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

This scripture from Proverbs is often quoted without the full context. Yes, we know that it is true that what a person is thinking on the inside of themselves is who they actually are. But, the meaning here 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.”

“Put away from you a

deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth, And put devious lips far from you.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:24‬ ‭AMP‬‬

In our portion from Psalms today we see that David 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, deceitful tongues of many men versus 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.

“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

Unless you’re living somewhere I have never been, I can pretty much know that you deal with a lot 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!

For today let us know and understand what David knew:

People often speak deceitfully, but God’s word is always true.

#100dayswithdavid