Scripture
“The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.” The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.” Psalms 12:5-8
Observation
David is writing a prayer out to the Lord. He is writing what he is seeing. The abundance of evil people and the seeming disappearance of the righteous. It looks a lot like today. All evidence points to the sad but inescapable truth that the wicked are winning and all goodness has lost its ground. Sound familiar? How many of us look around and make a similar observation. Then, God breaks through his hopelessness mid-prayer with a promise. This promise is contrasted with a culture of lies and deception. This promise is described purified seven times, the number of perfection. A pure word in the midst of an impure land. When nothing else can be trusted God can. He isn’t a politician making promises he can’t keep just to get elected. He isn’t a leader manipulating his way into power by telling people what they want to hear. No. He is the God who sees all, hears all and instead of standing back in indifference “will rise up to rescue them as they have longed for me to do.” (Ps. 12:5)
Application
David’s response to Gods promise is one of faith. “Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect...”. Not, might, not maybe, but will. He says this with such confidence even though “the wicked strut about and evil is praised throughout the land.” (Ps. 12:8). So, even before the rescue had come. Even before anything had changed. Even while evil continued to increase David knew they would be saved. Why? It’s the power of Gods promise. It’s the one certainty in a world of uncertainty. It’s the one good thing in a world soaked with sin. If God said it, God will do it. What God says is greater than what I see!
Prayer
Like David I am overwhelmed with the rampant evil and sin I see around me. It feels like sometimes nothing that I’m doing is making any difference. I pray that you would interrupt my hopelessness with your promise of deliverance. David wasn’t living in a dream world. He was calling it like he saw it and what he saw sounds like what I see. Liars succeed while the righteous recede. This morning I take shelter in the power of your promise. You aren’t far away. You aren’t blind to the injustice. You are pure and true and I put my faith in you. That even though the wicked strut about You will rescue us by Your mighty hand!
Update:
Literally right after penning this prayer I was challenged to put it in to practice. My Dad called me up and told me my Mom had been rushed to the hospital as she was largely unresponsive this morning. Would I trust what God said over what I was seeing? I prayed this promise from Psalm 12 with Pop. Then, I hiked and prayed up Double Peak and He reminded of another one of His promises: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23. Even before I hear of my Mom's healing I will declare with David "I know You will heal."
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