I. 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 goldrefined 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. (NIV)
Introduction – This psalm has a strong sense of desperation. David feels alone in a world of evil. He feels as if godliness is a lost cause. He sums up the situation and then offers a prayer. Then in verse five the Lord Himself speaks through the voice of David in answer to the prayer. If we look around our world today it can often seem that the cause of godliness is lost. However, we should take comfort. God is in control. His words are flawless. It is true that many evil ideas are common thought now. What is often honored among men is vile but the cause of the Lord will triumph.
Answer the questions in your own words:
- Why is David so pessimistic about the cause?
- In what ways can you see the same things today?
- As you consider verses 5 – 7, what is encouraging about the promises of God to us as His people still in this world?
II. Pray Psalm 12. Write out a short prayer to the Lord in your own words.
III. Sing Psalm 12.
- Worship the Lord by singing this Genevan version of Psalm 12.
- Sing this version of Psalm 12 from the Becker Psalter.
- Sing this metrical psalm arrangement with the tune, “O God Our Help in Ages Past.
| Help, Lord, because the godly mandoth daily fade away;And from among the sons of menthe faithful do decay.
2 Unto his neighbor ev’ry one doth utter vanity: They with a double heart do speak, and lips of flattery.
3 God shall cut off all flatt’ring lips, tongues that speak proudly thus, 4 We’ll with our tongue prevail, our lips are ours: who’s lord o’er us?
5 For poor oppressed, and for the sighs of needy, rise will I, Saith God, and him in safety set from such as him defy.
6 The words of God are words most pure; they be like silver tried In earthen furnace, seven times that hath been purified.
7 Lord, thou shalt them preserve and keep for ever from this race. 8 On each side walk the wicked, when vile men are high in place. |
| Page Copyright 2001, Music for the Church of God |
31 Days with God 