For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 12 – Lying Lips

1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful any more;
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbour;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbour 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 for ever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
    when what is vile is honoured by the human race.

A. Find Out:

1. What appears to have happened? v.1
2. What does everyone appear to be doing? v.2
3. What does David want the Lord to do? v.3
4. What had people been saying? v.4
5. Why was the Lord rising up? v.5
6. Like what are the Lord’s words? v.6

B. Think:

1. On what evil does David now focus?
2. Why will the Lord move?
3. What had become the state of the people?

C. Comment:

       First of all, let’s note what it is that is grieving David, the man after God’s own heart. He is very conscious that the quality of life in the nation has declined and there seem to be no people left who could be considered godly (with an open relationship with the Lord) and faithful (to the covenant with God).

      Second, see the particular expression of this godlessness and unfaithfulness that David speaks of: lying and deceitful lips. When worship of Him who is the Truth is gone, speaking truth also goes and lies, untruth and deceit abound. People say, “We can say what we like! What does it matter? What is truth?” Does that sound familiar?

      Third, observe next it is the Lord who seems to move and speak through David, saying that He will rise up and protect the weak who are oppressed by the godless. The Lord’s words are contrasted with the words of the ungodly. His words are without flaw, they are perfect, cannot be criticised, are pure, they are true, so when He speaks and promises something it WILL be so! Again, this Psalm starts with a plea for help and ends with affirmation that God will look after the godly and the righteous. Faith has flowed again as petition has been made.

D. Application?

1. Ungodliness is also characterised by untruth, in words especially.
2. The Lord, by comparison, only speaks the truth and His words can be trusted utterly.