Why Is The World So Messed Up? (AM Sermon Notes)
GIST: The world is corrupt because sin is exalted, so we need to cry out to God for help while trusting in His faithful and pure Word.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 12
This psalm is one that has been special to me for quite some time. I distinctly remember reading it in college and being struck by how much it seemed to reflect our world today. This was emphasized because later that day, I was talking to my “little grandma” on the phone, and we talked about this verse together. I wish I could say this was a common occurrence, but it is the only time I remember talking to her about a specific passage--a fact I now regret.
Since then, verse 8 in particular has never left me. I have even been able to share that verse in several conversations with youth over the years. It’s a message we need never forget. And it’s just as timely for us as it was for David when he was inspired to write it.
"1 Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. 2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, 4 those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?" 5 "Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise," says the LORD; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs." 6 The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 7 You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. 8 On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man."
It’s hard to ignore problems. And this world has a lot of them. Yet, this psalm cuts to the core. Why is our world so messed up? Well that’s our gist for today: The world is corrupt because sin is exalted, so we need to cry out to God for help while trusting in His faithful and pure Word. To break this down, we’ll look at three “P-words” (The Problem, The Prayer, and The Promise) and then consider three takeaways (You’ll just have to wait for those...or scroll to the bottom of this document☺️).
I. THE PROBLEM (1-4,8)
There are lots of ways we could try to answer today’s question (“what’s wrong with the world?”), and many answers have been given. However, this psalm doesn’t focus on external events--murders, or riots, or political corruptions--but rather focuses on the absence of God’s people. The world will fall apart when it’s not following God. Period. David zeroes in on this by observing that the major reason for the world’s corrupted state being→
The Godly Seem Gone. "1 Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. This is David’s perception. It’s hyperbole. Much like when Elijah cried out to God in his despair and fear that he was the only prophet left, and God reminded him that he was not actually alone, but there were at least 7,000 other faithful followers in Israel (1 Kings 19). All the faithful had not actually vanished, but, just like it does in our day, it sure seemed that way. Why? Well, in part at least→
Because The World’s Words Are Deceitful and Destructive. 2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, 4 those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?" If you were here last Sunday night, this probably sounds a lot like how we described temptations, and that should make sense. Right? Sin is sin and unified in its purpose to point us away from Christ and toward self. That is exactly what David is describing here. Lies, flattering lips, double hearts, great boasts...etc, these are all pointing to people using their words to promote self, even at the expense of others (sometimes deliberately so). Don’t we see this in our world? You don’t have to watch the news or even popular television to see this, just think about your own encounters. How often are tongues, even our own, used to tear down rather than build up? This is something I’m very conscious of in my life because I talk too much. I spend my whole life talking to people. I must guard my words--but it’s not easy. I know how destructive my tongue can be. Remember what James says about the tongue? "5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." (James 3:5-10).
It’s for this that David calls for the judgment which is inevitable. Again, this is poetry, so he is not asking God to literally cut off people’s faces, but rather is asking that this kind of talk be removed from amongst us. Why? Because he’s getting at the more central issue here. Why is it that our language is sinful? →
Because Sin Is Exalted. Again, out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 8 On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man." This is the key! And this is the verse that has stuck with me for so long. I want to read this in the NIV translation as well because sometimes a different wording can help clarify a point: “7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, 8 who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.” The word strut there seems to carry a different connotation than prowl, but both imply confidence. Sin is proudly strutting about. Why? Because we’re saying it’s good. Because we exalt it. Because we honor it. Just a casual glance at our society today will tell you that God is belittled while sin is exalted.
Think about our world today. Think of the things we fight for, or over. The ideals and activities we devote our time to. Profanity is rampant. Sexual misconduct is glorified. We’re horrified at the thought of the mindless mass murders that have become almost commonplace...but then flip the channel and watch similar acts dramatized on television for our amusement. How did it come to this? The same way it always has. Stuart Olyott said it often starts by us making light of sin. We joke about it. It becomes part of our vocabulary, our everyday speech. Then, what was once shocking becomes just...normal, part of life even. Then, it becomes expected and even desired. It’s the classic illustration of the frog in boiling water. Put it in when the water is boiling, and it will jump out. Put it in cool water and gradually warm it up, and it’ll sit there and die. It’s controversial today to talk about God’s design for marriage between one man and one woman. Saying this outloud will have you labeled a bigot. Point out that that context is the only one where sex should be happening, too, and you’ll be met with eye rolls and considered “old fashion”, at best. In fact, I might even be making people mad right now by typing these words...and believe me, I’m conscious of that. I retyped those sentences about five times just now. Why? How has it come to this? Because sins aren’t just committed in our world, they’re promoted.
II. THE PRAYER (1A)
So David looks around and sees a world steeped in sin. How does he respond? He prays one of the shortest prayers recorded in the Bible. Essentially he says →
HELP! "1 Save, O LORD…” I’ll be short on this point because it would almost be ironic not to be ☺️. It’s simple. It’s heartfelt. It’s appropriate. This isn’t to say short prayers are always better. However, Jesus does warn us against just heaping up words. David wouldn’t be accused of this here. He sees rampant sin and cries for help from God, which is exactly what he needs! In fact, just a tidbit, there are only two words used here in Hebrew: Save and Jehovah. I know I’m in danger of chasing a rabbit here, but it struck me yesterday morning that these are the same two words that comprise the Hebrew name, Joshua. The name means God Saves, or God is Salvation. In the New Testament, this same name was translated into Greek, and in English has become one of the most recognizable names of all time: Jesus! David cries to God for salvation, and Jesus is God Saving!
We have discussed this several times over the past months, but I want to point this out again. Too often, we don’t pray because we’re not sure what we should say. Never let that be a hindrance. God sees your heart; pour it out to Him. Cry out for Jesus! You do not need refined words to speak to your Savior. How many times do we feel overwhelmed or overcome at work, or home, or school, or just out in public? Remember, sin is prowling, cry out for help. Don’t go at this alone.
III. THE PROMISE (5-7)
So David points out the problem, prays for God’s intervention, and then God responds with this promise.
The Poor and Needy Are Heard. “5a "Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan…” That truth never gets old! Notice the contrast in descriptions here, as well. When David is lamenting, he notes that the faithful and godly are absent. When God responds, He refers to the same group as poor and needy (Broyles). What a reminder! We’re not saved because we’re faithful and godly, but because we’re weak and in need! I distinctly remember talking to a young man at Bates Creek (church camp) one summer who did not feel ready to be saved yet because he was still sinning. He told me he wanted to be saved, but knew he still needed to become more like Christ before that could happen. Praise the Lord, that’s not the case (and that young man accepted Christ that week!). God calls the weak and needy and transforms us into His children! We’ll still be messed up people. But we’re messed up people being made more and more into the image of Jesus!
God Will Rise & Protect. “5b I will now arise," says the LORD; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs." David called for punishment. God promises, in the immediate, protection. Sin will be punished, but here God focuses instead on the condition of the saved rather than the condition of the sinner. Yes, this world is messed up. But, no, it’s not for a moment out of His hand. And if you’re His, neither are you! Oh, how I love this sweet, sweet promise recorded in John 10: 27-30, "27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."" If you’re reading this today and have never given Jesus control of your life, you have not yet experienced this truth. But Jesus died to save you, and His salvation is faithful and true! If we are His, "38 ... neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). AMEN!
His Words Are Completely Pure. “6 The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 7 You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever” (emphasis added). David can trust God’s words, because, unlike the world, His Words are true. The image here is of silver refined seven times. Seven typically represents completion. So the picture is of the purest pure. This world might be filled with deceit and destruction, but His Words are solid, and His promise to keep and protect His people is sure!
TAKEAWAYS
1. The world is messed up because of sin. I know this might seem like an obvious point, but we need to remember this. Especially when were frustrated and feel as if everything in the world is going against what God has commanded. Rather than get upset with the way people are acting, as if those actions in themselves are the problem, or maybe even “those people” are to blame, we need to focus on the real issue. The world will always be sinful as long as sin is in the world. So, instead ask →
2. Are you part of the problem? What’s your speech like? Do you have a flattering tongue? Do you use your words to bring others down and promote yourself? What about your lifestyle? How do you spend your time? Where do you spend your time? What’s going on both in your public and private lives? Are you exalting sin or exalting Christ? Let God convict you here. Come, please, and cry out for help from the only one who can! Which really brings us to takeaway three →
3. How are you praying? In fact, are you at all… or are you just complaining? Remember, that’s not the same thing.
4. Are you making use of His promise? The world is messed up, and the reason isn’t complicated--we’re exalting sin. The solution isn’t complicated either--pray and consume His Word! Read it. Digest it. Apply it. Trust it. Yes, I just gave you the “church” answer: pray and read the Bible. But, oh, how would the world be different if everyone did that? You’ve heard me say it half a million times by now. I’ve heard myself say it a few times, too...but how different would our lives be if we actually did it.
The world is corrupt because sin is exalted, so we need to cry out to God for help while trusting in His faithful and pure Word.
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