I hate the two-faced, but I love your clear-cut revelation.
(Psalm 119:113 The Message)
113 Lord, I hate those who are not completely loyal to you,
but I love your teachings.
but I love your teachings.
(Psalm 119:113 ERV)
Two-faced is just another way of saying someone is "fake". The tendency of these individuals is to act one way when they are with certain people and then a totally different way when with others. Their set of values can fluctuate based on the circumstance or opportunity.
I think David may have been speaking of the tendency we have to conceal our "defects" so that we APPEAR more "put together" than we really are! Somehow, in the "made up" presentation of ourselves, we portray what we think others will see as a better picture of us than they'd really see if they saw us as we really are. The problem with this tendency to be "two-faced" is our inability to always have the "right" mask on at the right time!
If you haven't already caught the gist of this very long psalm by now, here it is: David is determined to point out how much "void" there is in our lives without having the Word of God as our guide. Whenever we choose to wear a mask instead of being "real" - - we seek to conceal. God's exact mission in life is to "reveal" - - because change is only possible through revelation!
David had done his share of "mask-wearing" in his day. His friends probably saw their share of his attempt to cover up some defect in his character he was not very proud of at different times. There is a fairly common catchphrase which I think sets us for failure - - "Fake it till you make it". I think this little phrase is riddled with all kinds of difficulty. Here's why:
- In utilizing this phrase, we are telling someone (maybe ourselves) to "imitate confidence" until that confidence produces some form of success in our lives. In turn, that "imitation" of confidence will generate some "real" confidence. The only problem with this is the idea of continuing to "imitate" or "fake" what we don't really possess. God is very clear in his Word that we possess ALL THINGS in Christ Jesus. There is no need for imitation when we have the real thing!
- In the realm of "belief", we are telling ourselves one thing, but the facts speak differently. For example, we may tell ourselves we are not feeling depressed, so we "make" ourselves do things people do who are NOT depressed - like being with others, cleaning the house, etc. We are trying to "convince" ourselves one thing is true, but in reality, the real "control" is in the feeling that we ARE depressed. Belief is clearly not enough to bring about full deliverance - - it may be the beginning of hope, but it is not enough to sustain us through bad times. We need the reality of changed feelings to realize deliverance from our depressed state. It is only as we "tap into" the strength that God gives, the determination of mind / will / and emotions that is only possible in his strength, that our deliverance comes. "With God, ALL things are possible!" This is the basis of our belief - - but the "walking out" of this belief is in the daily, moment-by-moment reliance upon God's enabling to walk strong!
There is a definite "void" in our lives whenever we begin to rely upon self instead of God. Two-faced living is really a place of "void" - - we are attempting to cover what we are really powerless to change, or don't realize needs changing. It is in the revelation of our true self change becomes a reality. In the moment of revelation, we are able to behold our true condition, reach out to God for help, and then begin to behold life choices through his eyes. In those moments, change begins. We may cry out for change in our lives, but until we remove the masks of "creative cover-up" we have been hiding behind, no change will come.
As we learn to value the revelation that comes through the Word, trusting God to assist us in the changes we so desperately desire, we step into a new freedom of being "real". What a freeing thing living without masks can be!