Psalms Reading – 1.12.2022
Psalms 11 and 12
Psalm 11 For the director of music. Of David.
1 In the LORD I take refuge.
How then can you say to me:
“Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows
at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth;
his eyes examine them.
5 The LORD examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
6 On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice;
the upright will see his face.
Psalm 12 For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.
1 Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.
3 May the LORD silence all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold refined seven times.
7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.
In Psalm 11 David declares God is his refuge in the midst of those who speak to him without faith and feel defeated by the situation. But David reassures them that God is still on the throne and still has the authority to rule. He examines all persons. We might be surprised to read that those who love violence God hates with a passion. They will be judged and punished severely. The Lord is righteous and love justice and those who are the same will be brought into His eternal presence.
In the midst of severe challenges, do we have a defeatist attitude or do we declare that God is our strength who rules in righteousness and justice?
In Psalm 12, David seems to feel more negatively about his circumstances as he declares there are no faithful people. They lie, boast, flatter others, and declare that their own lips will save them because they have no one who will hold them accountable.
However, the Lord will defend those who are treated unjustly. We are given the promise that the words of the Lord are flawless. David reiterates the Lord will keep them safe and protect them from the wicked. They arrogantly boast while everyone else honors such evil.
This is a picture of how evil is celebrated in our culture. For the righteous, we are comforted that the words of the Lord are flawless. For the unrighteous, this is a dire warning of judgment to come.
Memory Verse:
Psalm 9:1, I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
Question(s) to Consider:
How do you view your circumstances? Defeated? Remembering who God is and what He promises?