Read Psalm 12
For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.
1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.
3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the Lord.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold refined seven times.
7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.
Go Deeper
In this chapter, David is experiencing what so many of us deal with still today—the feeling that the faithful are few, and grow fewer every day. Keep in mind, David was a fierce warrior and soldier, yet it was not the physical battlefield that sent him to his knees. It was the lies and deception in the hearts of those around him that broke David and caused him to lament that the “loyal have vanished from the human race.” If you have ever felt alone, felt the betrayal of another (as we all have at some point), then you can recognize and empathize with the sorrow that David is expressing. It is likely familiar.
Let’s pause and recognize how he expresses that sorrow. He doesn’t grow angry at the human race. He doesn’t doubt his God’s presence or power over it all, just because it seems like the entire human race has become vile. And it doesn’t say that David tries to do anything about it himself—even though it is very likely that he could have. He was one of the best and most honored soldiers working in the king’s court. At times, he had close contact with the leader of the land. Yet, David didn’t go to the king. He went to the King.
We often forget that God doesn’t need our help. When things hurt us, offend us, or violate what we think is right, we spring into action, especially if we have access or ability to fix the problem at hand. But David knew that despite his position, status, and proximity to power, the strongest weapon he had in his arsenal was prayer. It was only God who would arise and act on behalf of the poor and needy who were being victimized. It was only the power of God’s pure words, in contrast to the lies of the people around David, that would pass the test of time and was worthy of his trust.
What a humbling thought that God, in all His glory and power, arises on our behalf and in our defense. As Spurgeon describes it, “Think of God arising in his might….Sighing child of God, it is you who can bring him into this marvelous state of activity.” When we lose faith or have a broken heart over the things surrounding us, we need only to remember that it is our acknowledged need that spurs God into action. We just have to ask—and watch Him arise.
Questions
- What circumstances have you feeling hopeless or broken-hearted?
- Have you tried to fix the problem yourself or have you taken it to God?
- What worries can you put down and ask God to handle for you today?
keep digging
Read this article for more insight on why the wicked prosper.
5 responses to “Psalm 12”
David contrasts the words and behavior of the human race in v2, “Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts” with the words of the Lord in v6, “And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.” Words matter as they reflect the condition of our hearts. May we train our minds to speak the truth using the Holy Spirit as a filter to pair grace with truth.
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.
This chapter focuses on words. It says “everyone utters lies” and have “flattering lips”. How good then to know that “the words of the Lord are flawless”. His words are “pure”, “refined”, and “purified”.
The Glory of the LORD Exodus
…17So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.” 18Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.” 19“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”…
God’s Word is pure. Psalm 12 shows the deceitfulness of man’s words with the purity of God’s words. BUT GOD’s words are as pure as silver refined seven times. The purity of God’s Word also implies that it is reliable. God keeps His word FOREVER!
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God’s Word is the only pure word (12:6).
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15 NKJV
God thank You for Your word. Thank You for revealing Yourself through Your word. When all else fails Your word is true. When all things pass away Your word will stand. God thank You for the freedom I have in this world to study and show myself approved unto YOU. Not man, but You God. You are my judge. God I thank You for learning more every day and seeing You in my life, As Moses did I ask for You to continue to show me Your glory. I desire to be a effervescing, overflowing vessel that glorifies and honors You in all I say and do. God, You know my heart. You know that when the world around me is rattled I am coming to fall on my face before You, Abba, Father!! Thank You for the scales of deceit falling off of my eyes, show me truth from Your word, not man’s, but Yours. I desire a relationship with You, pure and untainted. Thank You for God for this day before me, these minutes, that all I say and do glorify and honor You, in my words, actions and deeds in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought today’s psalm was somehow hijacked by someone writing a post about today’s culture. It is a reminder that there is no new sin. David had issues with lying tongues 3000 years ago.
It is also a reminder that words matter and God’s words are true. I am praying to follow Ephesians 4:29 today:
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Today’s study questions hit me right where I live:
“Have you tried to fix the problem yourself or have you taken it to God? What worries can you put down and ask God to handle for you today?”
And today’s chapter, Psalm 12, arrives as “words in due season.” Because only hours ago I received, as David might describe, some human words that were incomplete — and deeply wounding.
How greatly I needed this reminder today that the words of the Lord are always pure! (v. 6)
I don’t always recognize it right away, but when someone I trust says something that hurts, my first instinct is to try to fix it. To help them and heal my own hurt — with more and “better” words.
In the world that is me, nothing hurts more than feeling misunderstood.
How often I forget how I am not responsible for saying all the right things to solve all the hurtful wrongs. And what a relief to be reminded that God offers a better way!
I can give the matter to God. I can ask and trust HIM to handle it.
This doesn’t mean it didn’t matter.
It doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
It means it is not mine to fix.
And when well-intentioned words have hurtful impact…
I can choose not to speak at all.
Because God can choose to speak anytime he wants.
When I get silent, that makes space for His voice.
And He is sure to speak without a flaw.