Psalm 12

Today is April 12th, somebody once recommended to me to read a Proverb and Psalm a day (kind of like the old saying "eating an apple a day will keep the doctor away.”) Anyways, reading through this I felt deeply encouraged by the words in Psalm 12 and wanted to share with you. 

(Using the NLT and the description is from the commentary in the NLT Study Bible.)

Vs.1 Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!  The faithful have vanished from the earth! 
Living for God in a deceitful world can be a difficult and lonely battle.  At one time the great prophet Elijah felt so lonely he wanted to die.  But God told him that there were 7,000 other faithful servants (1Kings 19:4, 14, 18).  We are never alone in our battle against evil.  When you feel alone, seek out other believers for strength and support.

Vs.2 Neighbours lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and insincere hearts.
Vs.3 May the Lord bring their flattery to an end and silence their proud tongues.
Vs.4 they say, "We will lie to our hearts' content.  Our lips are our own-who can stop us?"
We may be tempted to believe that lies are relatively harmless, even useful at times.  But God does not overlook lies, flattery, deception, or boasting.  Each of these sins originates from a bad attitude that is eventually expressed in our speech.  The tongue can be our greatest enemy because, though small, it can do great damage (James 3:5,6).  Be careful how you use yours.

Vs.5 the Lord replies, "I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor.  Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do."
God cares for the weak and the needy.  Here He promises to protect the downtrodden and confront their oppressors.  We should identify with God's attitude.  His work is not done until we care for the needs of the poor.

Vs.6 the Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.
Sincerity and truth are extremely valuable because they are so rare.  Many people are deceivers, liars, flatters; they think they will get what they want by deception.  As a king, David certainly faced his share of such people, who hoped to win his favour and gain advancement through flattery.  When we feel as though sincerity and truth have nearly gone out of existence, we have one hope- the word of God.  God's words are as flawless as refined silver.  So listen carefully when He speaks.

Vs.7 Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation,
Vs.8 even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.

Amen.