1. Honestly speaking a community lament
Psalm 12
Honestly speaking
a community lament

2. The Psalms Poetic responses to the seasons and circumstances of life
Lament – Thanksgiving – Praise
Applied theology
God’s people attempting to make sense of life in the context of their faith
Compiled for worship in the second temple
1 000 years of material
Popularised by synagogue worship
Familiar to many by the time Jesus arrived.

3. Psalm 12:1-2 A cry for intervention 12:1 Save, O Lord,
Yahweh – ‘the God who is present to help’

4. Psalm 12:1-2 A cry for intervention The reasons for David’s distress
There’s a lack of faithful people
12:1 Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;     for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
A shortage of salt to retard decay/light to repel darkness Matt 5:13-16
There’s a plague of dishonest people
2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbour;     with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
Flattery and deception prevail

5. Psalm 12:3-4 The case for the prosecution
The recommended action for Yahweh to take with dishonest people
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,     the tongue that makes great boasts,
David leaves it with God to interpret the metaphor Romans 12:19
Two pieces of damning evidence
4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,     our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
Arrogant confidence in the power of spin
Arrogant disregard for the authority of Yahweh

6. Psalm 12:5-6 This is the word of the Lord
An assurance from Yahweh that he will take action
5 “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,     I will now arise,” says the Lord;     “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
Yahweh’s words are honest – not tricky John 7:45-47
6 The words of the Lord are pure words,     like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,     purified seven times.

7. Psalm 12:7-8 The paradox of life for the faithful – now, but not yet
Though we can trust Yahweh to be faithful to his words ….
7 You, O Lord, will keep them;     you will guard us from this generation forever.
… our present reality is that we live in a chaotic world
8 On every side the wicked prowl,     as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

8. When God’s faithful find themselves in a dark space
They can:-
- cry out to ‘the God who is present’ for help
- explain specifically what is disturbing them
- ask him to manage their fear, anger and frustration
- explain why he is worthy of their trust
- confidently place their future in his hands
The Lord redeems the life of his servants;      none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:22