Friday, January 12, 2024

Psalm 12

 1Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;

those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

2Everyone lies to their neighbor;

they flatter with their lips

but harbor deception in their hearts.

3May the Lord silence all flattering lips

and every boastful tongue—

4those 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.”

6And the words of the Lord are flawless,

like silver purified in a crucible,

like gold c refined seven times.

7You, Lord, will keep the needy safe

and will protect us forever from the wicked,

8who freely strut about

when what is vile is honored by the human race.
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Psalm 11 speaks of the desire to flee away when things are going in the way of the righteous.  Psalm 12 also asks for help because we feel alone in our faithfulness- the faithful are no more.  But God's faithfulness to truth does not depend on our faithfulness to Him.  
The Message translates vs. 2:  "Everyone talks in lie language; Lies slide off their oily lips.  They double talk with forked tongues."  
Smooth, well chosen words do not impress God is they are used to defend evil.  
In contrast, God's Word is true, pure and trustworthy.  God cares for the poor and protects them from the oppressors.  Anyone can rationalize away not helping the needy or treating the powerless wrongly because there seems to be no consequences to abusing the poor.  But God sees.  God cares.  Though we are unfaithful, God is faithful still. 


Prayer: Lord, Do help us.  Help the poor.  Help me to be a missionary of faithfulness to them.  

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