Help - Psalm 12
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Help
A cry of desperation; a plea to save, help, deliver, preserve
Hebrew word is continual, never finished
The names Joshua and Jesus come from this word.
The Psalmist cries out for God’s help because it seems that people of faith had disappeared from Israel.
It seemed as if the godly had disappeared and any who were godly were living among barbarians.
v. 1-2 Keep me from selfish deceit.
v. 1-2 Keep me from selfish deceit.
v. 1
We are sometimes tempted to wonder where other righteous men can be found as we feel surrounded by the ungodly (no regard for God).
We often only see what is immediately around us, as we overlook the evils of the past.
Elijah made the mistake of thinking he was the only servant of God left alive. While the Lord had thousands of servants in reserve.
"The faithful fail from among the children of men;"
Living with not regard to God is followed by unfaithfulness. There is no way to be full of faith if I live with no regard to God.
when godliness goes, faithfulness inevitably follows; without fear of God, men have no love of truth. Common honesty is no longer common, when common irreligion leads to universal godlessness.
David did not join the evil, but cried out for help to abstain from that evil.
"The faithful fail from among the children of men;" when godliness goes, faithfulness inevitably follows; without fear of God, men have no love of truth. Common honesty is no longer common, when common irreligion leads to universal godlessness.
v. 2
Their lives are marked with deceit. Their words did not match up with the reality of their hearts.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
They speak foolishly, deceitfully, lifting up each other, filling them with pride and conceit.
May this not be true in the church. (serving, singing, doing for applause of man)
ie: serving up compliments to each other
Those who are bankrupt in their faith desire these compliments for assurance.
“flattering lips and a double heart” - They build each other up in speech only but feel differently about them in their hearts.
. "With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak." He who puffs up another's heart, has nothing better than wind in his own. If a man extols me to my face, he only shows me one side of his heart, and the other is black with contempt for me, or foul with intent to cheat me. Flattery is the sign of the tavern where duplicity is the host. The Chinese consider a man of two hearts to be a very base man, and we shall be safe in reckoning all flatteries to be such.
v. 3-4 Keep me from living as if I am lord of my life.
v. 3-4 Keep me from living as if I am lord of my life.
They speak and live in a way that says “no one is Lord over us.”
They say, in essence “Our lips are mine.”
They flatter others and themselves with their words.
We must cry for help lest we fall in the vain deceit of self-glory.
Destruction is sure to those who speak and behave this way.
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
They say, in essence “Our lips are ours.”
They flatter others and themselves with their words.
We must cry for help lest we fall in the vain deceit of self-glory.
The Lord has declared each of us guilty.
v. 5-6 Fulfill your promise to hear my cry.
v. 5-6 Fulfill your promise to hear my cry.
v. 5
The Lord will hear as the oppressed, the poor (needy) cry out.
He hears even our groanings that cannot be uttered.
The Lord protects us from the enemy that seeks to devour. We can cry for help with full assurance that He will keep His promise.
v. 6
Contrast of man’s vain words to God’s pure words.
God’s holiness vs our sinfulness
God’s holiness vs our sinfulness
What God's words are, the words of his children should be.
What God's words are, the words of his children should be.
God’s Word is pure and eternal, my word is sinful and temporal.
God’s Word has been proven (tried) in tribulation, persecution, difficult times, etc.
v. 7-8 Exalt yourself in my life.
v. 7-8 Exalt yourself in my life.
v. 7 “Thou Shalt”
God will exalt Himself eternally among the heathen.
v. 8
An exalted sinner encourages others to sin. An exalted Redeemer should stir and encourage His saints.
The sight of our Redeemer should strengthen us as we face evil and help us cry out in hope of an answer, Help, Lord.
God’s glory and the triumph of Jesus Christ should encourage us to walk worthy of the Gospel.
Would to God that the glory and triumph of our Lord Jesus would encourage us to walk and work on every side; as like acts upon like, since an exalted sinner encourages sinners, our exalted Redeemer must surely excite, cheer, and stimulate his saints. Nerved by a sight of his reigning power we shall meet the evils of the times in the spirit of holy resolution, and shall the more hopefully pray, "Help, Lord."
As evil seems to increase on every side, our sight should be set on the Redeemer.
Now will I rise, saith the Lord;
Now will I be exalted;
Now will I lift up myself.
Application:
Unbeliever:
You’re cry for help must be for your soul’s salvation.
You’ve already been declared guilty. (deceit, lying tongue)
Believer:
Your cry for help should be a continual cry for deliverance (not removal) from the evil of this world.
God’s glory and the triumph of Jesus Christ should encourage us to walk worthy of the Gospel.