This is the most political you will ever see me get. But after watching our two Presidential candidates speak recently, Psalm 12 took on a very contemporary feel.

Here is the video link:

Psalm 12

The audio links for Spotify and iTunes are to the right.

Here is the transcript used for today’s podcast:

Psalm 12

Help – the Inmates are Running the Asylum

This Psalm has been put forward as an amplification of Psalm 11:2,3 where the Psalmist wrote:

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?”

The situation is dire, and on the face of it, hopeless. Sometimes it feels like all the righteous have gone, and no one is left to carry the standard of the Lord. It’s like I said in the title  – “The Inmates Are Running the Asylum”. 

I am reminded of a recent situation where a major city in this country elected officials who felt the police force was much less necessary than most thought it was. They orchestrated a “de-fund” the police force campaign and reduced the police force, because in their view, the police force was the problem behind high crime rates. This decision and action was celebrated by many across the nation. The logic supporting this action – to anybody who thought in a logical fashion – was non existent. Reduce crime by reducing the police force.

As you can imagine, crime skyrocketed. And the biggest irony of all was the very politicians who had championed this “defund the police” campaign were shouting “where are the police?” as crime began manifesting in their neighborhoods. The laws restricting the police were silently rescinded, and the police force restored to proper manning levels. For a brief time, the “Inmates ran the Asylum”.

In today’s political climate, we are in the throes of another Presidential campaign.  I am not a fan of either party nor am I a fan of either candidate. I have had to force myself to listen to both candidates as they make their case to America as to why they should be our next President and Vice President. I am watching both candidates imbed small kernels of truth within mountains of lies that they speak about their opponent. Thanks in no small part to the instantaneous nature of the Internet, snippets of each candidates’ lies are immediately trumpeted across hundreds of YouTube channels and streaming platforms.  The end result is that when all these channels and platforms are repeating these lies, these lies become “truth” in so many people’s eyes. A lie repeated often enough soon takes on the appearance of truth. What is wrong is soon seen as NOT wrong.

Within that context, look at these first few verses of Psalm 12:

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.

With that as his background, the Psalmist’s hope is declared.

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?”

According to my Bible Commentary,

“The wicked disobey God with their tongues. They pervert and twist truth. Their goal is to gain power by flattery, deception, and clever schemes. They do not tolerate authority but prefer autonomy and anarchy. The wicked are “double-hearted” (lit., “with deception”) by the very way they speak (cf. Jas 3:10-12). Their aim is power, and that end justifies any means. They do not shrink from flattery, boasting, denying God’s way, and exalting their own way.”

Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament

Copyright 2004.

Was there ever a more accurate description of many of today’s politics (at least what I am seeing in the national scene) than that seen in verses 3 and 4?

Now the Psalmist turns his eyes from current events to the future and declares what God’s response will be.

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.”

There will come a time when God will come to the aid of those who suffer under the hands of these foolish and wicked rulers. When? The Psalmist does not tell us. But if you remember what I said in Psalms 10 where I stated that if you know how the story ends in the future, that is all the information you need to deal with evil in the present. God wins. God prevails. There will come a day when all of this foolish posturing of these politicians and all of their boasting and preening will be revealed for what it is; the actions of a petulant child. If we believers truly understand the Sovereignty of God, and if we truly embrace the fact that God will deal with all this unrighteousness at some point in the future, then we can cease wringing our hands in the face of all this current foolishness that surrounds us. Let them make their outlandish promises. Let them boast. In the eternal scheme of things, it matters not. 

That is why the Psalmist can declare what he does in verse 6-8. Just because God isn’t shutting these foolish people down NOW doesn’t change what verses 6-8 say.

6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
    like silver purified in a crucible,
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
    

With one ever-so-contemporary parting shot, the Psalmist closes Psalm 12.

and will protect us forever from the wicked, 8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.

That last statement “when what is vile is honored by the human race” could not be more appropriate for our times.

Folks – do not be discouraged by what you see and hear today. These are indeed dark times. If there was not eternity with God waiting for us, we would have reason to despair. If this life was all there was for us, then we would have reason to wring our hands. However – we are children of eternity. Our future is stamped by the seal of the Holy Spirit, our destiny is heaven. We can celebrate, even in the maelstrom of evil we see around us.

In His Grip,

Paige