CRUMBLING FOUNDATIONS

In Psalm 12:3 David asks a searching question; “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” There could not be a more appropriate question for the times in which we live.


I do not think for a moment that he had economic or political problems in his mind. He was not primarily looking for answers to an economic collapse or a dangerous political impasse, though both may well have been present in the nation. The foundations he was concerned about were much deeper than economics or political concepts. He was looking at the moral foundations of society. It was those that were being destroyed, destroyed by wilful self interest, lustful behaviour and gross acquisitiveness. He knew perfectly well that if these foundations were crumbling there could be no sound economic or political life anyway. Sound economics.demand human trust and where this was undermined by power, deceit and greed economic life went “pear shaped”. It was the same with politics. Human behaviour is the ultimate foundation of society.


No, the problem was a moral problem, a problem of ordinary human behaviour, the sort of behaviour that destrpys positive human relationships. It’s a problem that springs out of lying and deceiving, stealing, acting aggressively and violently, indulging in permissive and adulterous behaviour. David was watching the real foundations of society being destroyed by an increase of this kind of behaviour. So are we, in our generation, and especially by the behaviour of the rich, the clever, the famous and the media who instead of giving a good example, lead the degenerate parade.


“What can the righteous do?” in the face of such a godless flood. The answer to that is primarily to “flee to the LORD”. It is to seek personal righteousness and godliness in a very definite manner. It is to seek to be a strong stake that can hold things together in our own corner. It’s a call to real holiness. It’s a call to seek God for wisdom, courage and sheer grace.


There is actually another way of rendering Ps 12:3; “When the foundations are being destroyed, what is the Righteous One doing?” In other words, “What is God doing?” David is quite clear about one thing here; “He, God, observes the sons of men, his eyes examine them” Ps.12:4. He keeps a close watch on it all. People may well say “There is no God; we will throw off the shackles of restraint”, but every deed is noted on High. He loves the righteous person, the one who trusts in him and fears his ways; he hates evil and reluctantly but surely moves toward a day of reckoning.

Be strong in godliness!


Bob




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