Psalm 12: Lament And Trust

Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
2     Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3     May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4     those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
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.”
6     The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7     You, O Lord, will keep them;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
8     On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.
 
Meditation
Prayer is the place where the depths of our grieving hearts connect with the heights of God’s great faithfulness, cultivating confidence in Him. Charles Spurgeon describes this Psalm as “mingled melody of lowly mourning and lofty confidence.”
 
Prayer holds in contrast God’s trustworthy words to protect with the empty words of the godless.  David laments the loss of godly leaders, lying and flattering lips pouring forth deceit from their double hearts (1-2). David prays their lips and tongues will be cut off (3-4), plainly stating both the problem and desire of his grieving heart. Lament is honest with both the brokenness of the world and burden of our soul.
 
God’s faithfulness is revealed in His word and work, and confidence in prayer sees the Lord rising to rescue. God hears the groans of our hearts. God rises to redeem what He has allowed (5). Confidence sees God’s words as “pure words, like silver refined in a furnace” (6). God keeps His words, promising to protect even as the wicked prowl to deceive the children of humanity (7). Confidence in prayer is cemented when we seek refuge in the word and work of the Lord.
 
Prayers of lament are endorsed by Scripture! The covenant faithfulness of God’s word and work moves our heart focus from the valley of lament towards the great ascent in trusting God’s faithfulness. God hears our groaning. God will rise and act to redeem what He allows.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from David’s bold prayer? Where do you identify with his lament over a godless world?
 
-Where do you need to combine your lament with God’s covenant faithfulness, cultivating trust in Him through prayer?
 
-How does the work of Jesus both demonstrate the truths of this Psalm and invite you to trust God’s word and work? Where do you need to apply this? Be specific.
 
Key verse
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.”