Not a pretty picture

"For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue." Psalm 5:9

When the Apostle Paul continues in Romans Chapter 3 with his overall point regarding both Jews and Gentiles, he states: "Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:" - Romans 3:13

Paul is taking that which is from Psalm chapter 5 to drive his point deeper, which is that humanity is not a pretty picture. They're lost. Something that has completely zoomed past society at large today.

"Their throat is an open sepulchre" - matches literally word for word with that which is written in Psalm 5:9, and "with their tongues they have used deceit" matches with "they flatter with their tongue". But is flattering someone and flattery in general such a bad thing?

Let's allow the book of Daniel to explain further. "And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries." - Daniel 11:21

That vile person who comes in peaceably and actually obtains his future kingdom by "flatteries"? Is none other than the Antichrist. "And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." - Daniel 11:32

Flatteries can corrupt. Flatteries can be an evil tool used to do great harm. Flattery is something done with the tongue, and through which deceit is dished out. This is what is ascribed to humanity ("both Jews and Gentiles under sin" from Romans 3:9) as Paul gives this description, and it's not a pretty picture.

Romans Chapter 1 through 3 is basically what you want to show those who proclaim today that "humanity is getting better and better". Actually, it's not. They're mostly blinded, and thus, either saved or lost, and only the light of the gospel of Christ can save them, and provide them with what they need.

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

It's not a pretty picture, but it's our job as Ambassadors, soldiers, workmen, and evangelists to get out there and get some work done.

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