Praying Psalm 12

"Pure Words"

What is the title of Psalm 12?

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

Read Psalm 12:1-2

¹ Save, YHWH, for the godly/”chesed” one is gone; for the faithful/trustworthy have vanished from among the sons of man.

² Everyone utters lies/emptiness/in vain to his neighbor; with flattering/smooth lips and a double heart they speak.

What is the problem?

(1)   The righteous people are GONE?? Like in Genesis 6 – Remember the flood? God was THAT ANGRY.
(2)   They SPEAK empty things with each other – flattering, two-faced, lies…
** This is Lords name "IN VAIN" – empty things!

Read Psalm 12:3-4

³ May YHWH cut off all flattering/smooth lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,
⁴ those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail/are strong, our lips with us; who is master/lord  over us?”

What is David’s prayer?

YHWH make it right. –YHWH is strong – These people are misinformed!!
What is so bad about flattering lips? Proverbs…5 & 7

Read 12:5-6

⁵ “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says YHWH; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
⁶ The words of YHWH are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

 What are the words of YHWH?

(1)“I will act” BECAUSE poor & needy. (This is when the Lord saves!)
(2) Pure clean words. True! Good! – contrast to words of people in v.2

 Read Psalm 12:7-8

⁷ You, YHWH, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever.
⁸ On every side/encircled the wicked prowl/walk around, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

 What picture of reality does David end with?

(1)   YWHW protects.
(2)   Wicked surround – worthlessness & vileness rules around us.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Lament – cry out that no one is righteous!! Surrounded by evil!
Prayer for judgment
Teach difference in WORDS – they are not all equal.

How does Christ pray this psalm?

¹² While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.^{[a] 16} They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them^[b] in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
John 17 12-17

 ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. John 15:18-21

 ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:13-15

Jesus' words are hated. His followers will be too - BUT a Helper has come - the Holy Spirit.

1. 1 Corinthians 1:22 : See Matt. 12:38
2. 1 Corinthians 1:23 : Gal. 5:11; See 1 Pet. 2:8
3. 1 Corinthians 1:24 : [1Cor 1:18]
4. 1 Corinthians 1:24 : 1Cor 1:30; Col. 2:3; [Luke 11:49]

How can we pray this?
Christ is the righteous one. YHWH protects us who love Christ's righteous Words and follow their wise path. The Holy Spirit keeps us believing by teaching the of Word and giving of God's holy gifts, even amidst this evil world.

WE PRAY:

Hallowed be Thy name.

What does this mean? God's name is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may become holy among us also.

How is this done? When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we as the children of God also lead holy lives in accordance with it. To this end help us, dear Father in heaven. But he that teaches and lives otherwise than God's Word teaches profanes the name of God among us. From this preserve us, Heavenly Father.