Psalm Friday

We are not Alone!

"Psalm of the Day"

Psalm 12

* Pray. Ask God to give you an open heart and mind to learn new truths from His Word. Read Psalm 12 through three times. Record any thoughts or questions you have in your journal. If a verse stands out to you, write it on an index card and begin committing it to memory.

Psalm 12 is a Psalm of David believed to have been written during a time of great opposition from Saul.

Do you ever feel like you are among a den of lions alone? As I began reading this Psalm, I couldn’t get past the first few verses,

“Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.” Psalm 12:1

David felt as if he were alone, as if all the godly men were gone. As he looked around in his time of need, he saw no one who could physically help him or stand by his side. Those around him talked a good talk but none of them were walking the walk. David needed encouragement; but those around him spoke empty words and boasted in themselves, not the Lord.

One thing that God absolutely detests is pride. It reminds me of King Nebuchadnezzar when the Lord brought him lower than low after his twelve month period of self righteous indignation (Daniel 4:28-37). King Nebuchadnezzar learned that God has the power to knock the proud man off his perch; and He will do it if need be.

David needed someone and somewhere safe to run to. He was being oppressed and he was alone. God promised him (verse 5) that He was about to rise up and bring David into a safe place. I can just picture God stretching out His arms and pulling David a little closer to His side. When a man or woman of God cries out to the Most High, He performs all things for the benefit of His people (Psalm 57:2). God may not change the circumstance we are in, but He does promise to hide us in the shelter of His mighty wing.

In times of aloneness we can cling to God’s promise of safety and rest because His words are pure and true. What He says He will do, He will do. He promises to keep and preserve the righteous. I looked up the meaning of these two words in the original Hebrew language. I love what they mean. Keep is the transliteration of the Hebrew word shamar meaning to hedge about. Preserve is the transliteration of the Hebrew word natsar meaning to guard. God is going to place a hedge of protection around His people and He is going to stand guard against the enemy. Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is pure, He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” Do you see it? God promises to protect us. He doesn’t promise that all of life’s experiences are going to be pleasurable and without heartache, but He does promise to fight for us. David was not all alone. He may not have had a man to stand with him, but David had God to stand for him.

Questions to Answer- Thoughts to Ponder
In times of aloneness, who do you turn to? How comforting is it for you to know that God is with you through everything in life that you will face?

If another person was in a time of need, would he/she be able to look to you as a man or woman of God or would they say “there is none faithful among me”?

What areas of your life need to be purified to make you more like Christ? Turn those areas over to God right now and allow Him to perform might things for you.

Oh, Father how I praise You today. You are my shield and my strong tower. In You, I can be safe and find rest. Thank You that You promise to protect me from the enemy. Reveal to me areas in my life that need to be purified and refined by you. Mold me and make me into the Godly woman You have created me to be. Spill forth from my life making known Your glory to all those around. Amen.