SCRIPTURE
"The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times. You, Lord, will guard us; You will protect us from this generation forever. The wicked wander everywhere, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race." (Psalm 12:6-8)
OBSERVATION
The Psalmist understands he lives in a wicked generation. A generation that has no direction because they wander. Part of their problem is exalting worthless things. That is really the heart of idolatry...taking something worthless, lifeless, having no eternal survival, and lifting it up by placing value on it. It is the human race that has this problem, not God. He alone is worthy (worth-full) and by association the things connected with Him are also worthy. For example, God's words are not worthless, the writer just compared them to silver.
APPLICATION
I had to wonder, "what worthless things do I exalt?" Not that I lift them up and worship them but exaltation happens when I trust, or have faith, in something or someone other than God. It is God, whom the Psalmist looks to for protection. It's easy to do...exalt worthless things. I exalt my checkbook because I trust the future by my ending balance. In the black, the future is bright, in the red I start to worry. I exalt my calendar because I think I'm in control of scheduling tomorrow. I exalt my remote because I can watch three television shows at the same time and have instantaneous control of the situation. There are a lot of other things I can exalt but I think God wants me to keep them in perspective. They are worthless when compared to Him. I need to spend my time exalting Him and the worthless things will take care of themselves because God will guard me.
PRAYER
Lord, forgive me of the times I've exalted worthless things and not You. When I've trusted and lifted up the things that are not eternal.
