The Dawn of Fact-Check

In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree! (Psalm 120:1-4 ESV).

 

The English language is constantly evolving as new words are developed and inserted into our vocabulary as new behavior takes hold in our culture. One of those “new” words describes the era in which we live. We have now begun calling the age in which we are living the “Post-Truth Era.” In fact, an entirely new industry has evolved as a result of the need for determining the truth. We call these “fact-checkers.” Just five years ago there were 44 fact-checking organizations; today there are 195. It is interesting that with the dawn of so many of these organizations, you are often forced to consult more than one to determine the veracity of a claim. Something is wrong in a culture when you must check the checkers; but, that seems to be where we are as a nation.

 

Our reading today has something to say about living in the midst of relentless trouble. It begins with distress and ends with talk of war, and everything in between reveals anxiety and pain. This psalm is the first of fifteen songs used by ancient Israelites traveling to Jerusalem (Mount Zion) for a temple festival. For many of those pilgrims it was a long and difficult journey, and yet they undertook it gladly.

 

This psalm provides the reason why they wanted to take that trip — to escape the violence and lies that often surrounded them. This psalm draws them toward Jerusalem and the temple, to celebrate God’s truth.

 

We may often be surrounded and distressed by trouble as well. When that happens, there is only one way to turn, to God. The only way to escape the lies that often surround us is to turn to and meditate on the truth found in God’s Word. Notice the psalmist’s firm faith despite so many troubles: “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.” God’s faith­ful­ness is clear to the believer who calls on God and seeks to live by God’s truth. That’s what drew so many pilgrims to celebrate the Lord together. And in God’s presence they were blessed and restored.

 

Every time we approach God, we too are making a pilgrimage into the presence of the one who is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).