Psalm 12

Psalm 12 (NRSV)

1 Help, O Lord , for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
the faithful have disappeared from humankind.
2 They utter lies to each other;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4 those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail;
our lips are our own—who is our master?”

Dear Lord,
Flattering lips and forked tongues are powerful weapons in the arsenals of the wicked. They can convince a hungry man that starvation is a good thing even when he is sitting next to a rich man’s mountain of food. They persuade men of integrity to kill others for reasons nearly-good, bad and purely spurious. Lord God, for the onslaught of words, we need a giant spam filter. We need a defense shield against the word bombs that damage souls and corrupt characters.

But your words are as pure as refined silver – so declares the poet. Open my heart to your word. Let the world hear.

“For the oppression of the poor,
for the sighing of the needy,
Now I will arise”, says the Lord. (12:5,KJV)

Is this not consistent with Jesus? Did you not rise up in Jesus? How did we ever come to believe that a person could follow Jesus and neglect the needy or misuse the vulnerable? It seems that under the spell of sin-shaped words, even the gospel is corruptible.

The poet promises that you will keep your word. You will take care of the vulnerable and the week. You will provide protection for those unable to protect themselves. Lord, now would be a really good time!

Bless the Rescue Missions and the helping hand agencies of our world. Bless all who volunteer. In this political season, keep the poor before us as we choose our leaders.

Last week, my neighbor told me about his father’s funeral and the scores who visited to say, “He helped me when I needed it.” My friend said, “Nobody ever knew what my father did. May his tribe increase.

PERSONAL PRAYERS”
Ask God to show you your personal place in the protection of the poor.
Ask God to help you to faithfully follow Jesus.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen,


5 “Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord ;
“I will place them in the safety for which they long.”
6 The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,
silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7 You, O Lord , will protect us;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among humankind.
[1]

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.