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Psalms 12

8 verses

TL;DR

The psalm laments the decline of the godly and the rise of false speech, while affirming God's judgment against the wicked and His protection for the oppressed.

Summary

Psalm 12 begins with a cry for help, lamenting how the godly have vanished and the faithful have failed among humanity. It accuses people of speaking vanity and using flattering lips and double hearts, highlighting the deception of pride. The LORD is declared to cut off such speech and the tongues that boast, emphasizing divine judgment against those who think they can dominate. The psalm then speaks of the LORD rising to defend the poor and the needy, promising safety for those oppressed. It affirms that the LORD's words are pure, as silver refined in a furnace, and that they will be preserved forever. The psalm concludes with a stark image of wickedness spreading, while the most vile are exalted.

Outline
  1. Lament over the disappearance of the godly and the failure of the faithful
  2. Accusation of vanity, flattering lips, and double hearts among the people
  3. The LORD’s judgment, protection for the oppressed, and the enduring purity of His words
Themes
Decline of faithfulnessDeception and pride in speechGod’s judgment and protection for the poor
Keywords
godlyfaithfulvanityflattering lipsdouble heartoppressionpoorneedypure wordssilverfurnace
People
LORD
Places
Things
flattering lipsdouble heartsilver refined in a furnacepure words
Key Verses
  • Psalms 12:5: Shows the LORD’s promise to protect the oppressed, contrasting the lament with hope
  • Psalms 12:6: Highlights the purity and enduring nature of God’s words
  • Psalms 12:8: Conveys the reality of wickedness and the peril it poses to the righteous
Questions
  • Why does the psalmist emphasize the lack of godly people?
  • How does the imagery of "flattering lips" and "double hearts" illustrate human deception?
  • In what ways does the psalm reconcile the presence of wickedness with God’s promise of protection?
  • What does the repeated reference to silver refined in a furnace suggest about God’s word?
  • How might this psalm speak to contemporary believers facing social injustice?
Sentiment

mixed
The tone is lamenting but also hopeful, highlighting judgment and divine protection.