Supplication in a Time of Degeneracy Psalm 12:1-8

Transcription

1 1 Supplication in a Time of Degeneracy Psalm 12:1-8

2 2 Text: Psalm 12:1-8, Supplication in a Time of Degeneracy 1. Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fall from among the children of men. 2. They speak vanity every one with this neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 3. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4. Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; out lips are our own; who is lord over us? 5. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. 6. The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. 8. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. Introduction: I. This psalm was written: A. For the director of music. B. According to Sheminith. 1. Sheminith is a word of uncertain meaning. (Pulpit Commentary)

3 See the notes in this lesson series on Psalm 6 (superscription) for further information. C. A psalm of David. 1. Psalm 12 was probably written when David was serving in King s Saul court, or during the period of his flight from King Saul. (Smith) II. Coffman observed that, while the age of David was in some ways the Golden Age of Israel, this psalm indicates that the moral condition of that society as a whole was one of utmost degeneracy. III. Psalm 12, Smith wrote, has two main divisions; viz., A. Verses 1-4: A prayer. B. Verses 5-8: A prophecy. IV. The Pulpit Commentary outlines Psalm 12 as follows: A. Verses 1, 2: a complaint. B. Verses 3, 4: a menance. C. Verses 5-8: a promise. Commentary: The Pernicious Words of Ungodly Men Psalm 12:1, Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fall from among the children of men. I. Help, (save) Lord,... (NIV)

4 4 A. How often have we spoken to our Heavenly Father this sentence prayer! 1. And he understands all our feelings and needs when we beg, Help, Lord! B. Scriptures: 1. Psalm 20:9, Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call. 2. Psalm 28:9, Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance; feed them also, and lift them up for ever. 3. Psalm 60:5, That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me. II. for the godly (have ceased, vanished) are no more;... (NIV) For the godly man ceaseth; A. Then, as now, the truly righteous were in short supply! B. The righteous were disappearing from the land. (Smith) C. Tesh and Zorn render godly as persons devoted to God, loyal, faithful, manifesting kindness and uprightness of character, children of God. D. 1 Kings 19:10, And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. III. The faithful (fail) have vanished from among men. (NIV)

5 5 A. This statement appears to be parallel to that in the first statement above. B. Wickedness among mankind is rampant! C. Could this be true of our country? D. Micah 7:2, The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. Psalm 12:2, They speak vanity every one with this neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. I. Everyone lies (speaks falsehood, vanity) to his neighbor; (NIV) A. A prominent societal sin appears to have been the lost control of the tongue; falsehood, flattery, deceit, slander, gossip, hypocrisy, derogation, backbiting and cheating are, Coffman wrote, some of the sins perpetrated by tongues out of control. B. People thought one thing in their hearts and spake the opposite with their mouths. (Smith) C. How grievous is it that evil people take the crowning achievement of humanity, the ability to communicate, and pervert it for the advancement of wicked designs through deceit, flattery, slander and lying. (Tesh and Zorn) D. Notice here the all inclusive word Everyone! E. Ephesians 4:25, Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

6 6 II. their flattering lips speak with deception. (NIV) A. These terrible interpersonal relationship problems, sins cried for God s intervention. B. Christians are to speak the truth. (Ephesians 4:15) Amen! Period! (Coffman) C. Revelation 21:8, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. III. As a result the citizens could not trust one another, a person s word was no longer his bond and a signed contract didn t mean loopholes could not be found to make it essentially void. A. This cancer spread and corrupted all society from the least to the greatest. (Tesh and Zorn) Psalm 12:3, The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: I. May the Lord cut off... (NIV) A. David plead for God s intervention to set right these sinful behaviors of the tongue and interpersonal relationships. B. David prays for the removal of these false-hearted braggarts. Unscrupulous courtiers appear to be meant who sought to achieve their purposes by total disregard for the truth, through flattery, slander, and false witnesses. (Smith)

7 7 C. Tesh and Zorn noted that while some ancient fiendish kings actually cut out the tongues of those who spoke offensively of them, the meaning here is that God would stop the evil speakers. 1. Psalm 37:9, For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 2. Psalm 10:15, Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none. 3. Psalm 11:6, Upon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 4. Psalm 17:13, Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: II. all flattering lips (that speak great things) and... A. Coffman defines this phrase as proud and lofty boastings. 1. Daniel 7:20, And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. III. every boastful tongue...(niv) A. The wicked acknowledge no responsibility for their words. (Coffman) 1. Daniel 7:8, 20, I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and,

8 8 behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. B. The wicked were to be cut off from the congregation. 1. Genesis 17:14, And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. 2. Exodus 12:15, 19, Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 3. Leviticus 7:20, 27, But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. 4. Leviticus 17:10, And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. Psalm 12:4, Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; out lips are our own; who is lord over us? I. that says, We will triumph with our tongues;.. (NIV)

9 9 A. Whatever these people wanted they felt they could get by the wilily use of their tongues. 1. They envisioned themselves as accomplished con men. II. we own our lips -... (NIV) A. We plan to do just as we please with our lips/speech. (See Coffman) III. who is (lord over us) our master? (NIV) A. We have no master or Lord! 1. This is the attitude of every criminal and lawless society. (See Coffman) 2. We answer to no one, not even to God. (Tesh and Zorn) B. Scriptures: 1. Psalm 10:4, 11, The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face, he will never see it. 2. Psalm 14:1, The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. God s Promise and the Psalmist s Response

10 10 Psalm 12:5, For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. I. Because of the oppression of the weak... (NIV) A. The objects of God s concern are the weak and needy. (Tesh and Zorn) 1. Consider ever so thoughtfully the sufferings and loneliness of those: a. living of the streets of our country. b. fighting aids in Africa. c. facing painful terminal illnesses. d. living in any one of the thousands of prisons in our land. e. facing addictions to which they have become slaves. 2. Remember: But for the grace of God, there go I! 3. Then ask, What am I really doing to either help, hinder or leave unchanged the conditions of the weak and needy? II. and the groaning of the needy,...(niv) A. Because of continuing prayers of the afflicted, God determines to intervene on the part of the oppressed and needy!

11 Psalm 3:7, Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone: thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 2. Psalm 7:6, Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded. 3. Psalm 9:19, Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 4. Psalm 10:12, Arise, O Lord: O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. 5. Exodus 3:7, 8, And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows: And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. III. I will now arise, says the Lord. (NIV) A. Because of the unjust oppression of the poor, God agrees to intervene. (Smith) B. God will respond favorably to the plight of the afflicted! (Tesh and Zorn) IV. I will protect them from those who malign them. A. This is the answer to prayer David sought.

12 12 B. This phrase is also rendered, I will set him in safety from him that puffeth (sighs, pants) at him. (KJV) Psalm 12:6, The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. I. And the words of the Lord are (pure) flawless,... (NIV) A. Oh, if only our word were also flawless! 1. James 3:1-12, My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, withersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Proverbs 25:11, A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. B. The devil and his angels have questioned everything God has ever said beginning with, But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (Genesis 3:3, 4) C. God s words are totally trustworthy, the very opposite of the lies of the conniving hypocrites. (Smith) II. like silver refined in a furnace of clay, (NIV) III. purified seven times. A. Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away! (Jesus) B. Scriptures: 1. Psalm 18:30, As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 2. Psalm 19:8, The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 3. Psalm 119:140, Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. 4. Proverbs 30:5, Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

14 14 Confidence in the Face of Continuing Danger Psalm 12:7, Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. I. O Lord, you will keep us safe... A. David was fully convinced God would provide protection which is sorely needed when wickedness runs rampant. (Smith) B. Tesh and Zorn wrote, The foundation of God is sure and will never be moved by the machinations of humankind. II. and (preserve) protect us from (this generation) such people forever (as long as they live). (NIV) A. David responded with a resounding Amen to God s promise. B. Scriptures: 1. Psalm 3:1, 2, 6, 7, Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone: thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 2. Psalm 4:2, O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3. Psalm 5:4-6, 9, 10, For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

15 15 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue. Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions: for they have rebelled against thee. 4. Psalm 6:8, Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 5. Psalm 7:1, 2, 9, 13-16, O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous trieth the hearts and reins. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. 6. Psalm 11:2, 3, 6, For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. Psalm 12:8, The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

16 16 I. The wicked freely strut about... (NIV) A. Many wicked people occupy in arrogance high positions in business, government and, yes, even in religious circles! B. The wicked may continue to freely strut about, but God s word and protective providence endure. (Tesh and Zorn) II. when what is vile is honored among men. (NIV) A. David concludes the psalm in the same way it began by asserting that society, at that time, remained as evil as ever. (Coffman) Conclusion: I. Christians are to keep careful watch on our: A. hearts, attitudes. 1. Proverbs 20:9, Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 2. Matthew 5:8, Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 3. Acts 8:22, Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 4. Proverbs 4:23, Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 5. Psalm 51:10, Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

17 17 B. speech. 1. Colossians 4:6, Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. 2. Ephesians 4:29, 30, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 3. Psalm 19:14, Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. 4. Hebrews 13:15, By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 5. Matthew 13:36, 37, Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; C. actions. 1. Romans 2:6, Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 2. 1 John 3:18, My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

18 Colossians 3:9, Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; II. All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. A. 1 Peter 3:14, 16, 17, But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. B. 1 John 3:1, 13, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. C. John 15:18, 19, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. III. God will protect his faithful children from the onslaughts of wicked people. IV. Christians must be prayerfully concerned about our nation s growing corruption. A. Proverbs 14:34, Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. B. Micah 4:3, 4, And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

19 19 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.

20 20 References Coffman, James Burton, Psalms, Volumes 1 and 2, Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version, National Publishing Company, The Gideons International, Nashville, Holy Bible, New International Version, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan1953. Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Knight, George A.F., The Daily Bible Study Series, Psalms, Volume 1, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, Smith, James, E., The Wisdom Literature and Psalms, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri, Tesh, S. Edward and Zorn, Walter D., Psalms, Volume 1, The College Press NIV Commentary, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri, Youngblood, Ronald F., Bruce, F. F., and Harrison R. K., Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1995.

21 21 Questions Psalm 12: To whom and for what purposes was Psalm 12 written? 2. Who wrote Psalm 12? What were the circumstances in which this psalm was written? 3. How can Psalm 12 be outlined? Give two responses to this question._ 4. For what was the Psalmist asking God s help? When have you prayed, Help, Lord?

22 Where had all the godly people gone? Is our country as godly as it used to be? Give reasons for your answer. 6. List the sins of which the society of that day was guilty. 7. Did everyone commit these sins? Explain. 8. Are these sins rampant in our society? If so, what effect do they have on the integrity of our nation? 9. In view of Psalm 12:3, for what does the Psalmist pray? Explain what is meant by this expression.

23 What is the attitude of every criminal and every lawless society? 11. What is God s attitude toward the oppressed, the weak and the needy? 12. What is God s attitude toward those who afflict the oppressed, the weak and the needy? 13. Is it enough for Christians to do neither good nor evil to the oppressed? Is it acceptable to just let them be? Explain your answer.

24 What led to God s decision to intervene on behalf of the oppressed, needy and weak? 15. What did God determine to do on behalf o the downtrodden? Consider verse 5b. 16. Describe the words of the Lord. 17. Describe ways in which the words of God have been questioned and identify those who have done the questioning. Do Christians ever question God s word? If so, why and under what conditions? 18. Explain the significance, meaning of silver that has been purified seven times. How does this figure apply to God s word?

25 Exactly what does the Psalmist have confidence that God will do for the righteous? Do we have this same degree of confidence? 20. However, the still about and what is is among. What are Christians to do about this situation? 21. Extra Credit Question: What conclusions do you reach from your study of this psalm?