Epaggelia

12:1, Have we ever felt we were the only righteous people around? Elijah felt this way after Queen Jezebel sent him a death-threat letter, 1st Kg. 19:10. God directly gave Elijah the truth of many other followers that were currently alive & well. Now David feels this way & needs rescued, because David feels like all who are godly, are finished & obliterated. Jesus once asked

 “When the Son of Man comes, will he find ___________ on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

v2-3 Knowing what the wicked speak is a great way to discern what words we should not speak. Twice used is the word “flattering” – chelqah (hebrew) smooth & slippery. 

This is the opposite of the word used in v6, from Jehovah, which is “reliable” – imrah (hebrew) uttering a command.

Jesus says, “for every _________ word men may speak, they will give account of it on the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified & by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36)

Consistently the only word used for God in this Psalm is YHWH, Jehovah. Requesting that God cut off the lips and cut out the tongue of wicked people is not incongruous with his Holy nature because holiness ultimately demands elimination of everything unholy. The reason the speech of the wicked persists is because Jesus says “you will be sons of the Most High, for he

 is ________ to the ungrateful and the evil, be merciful even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36) With God, mercy always triumphs over justice.

v4 shows the rhetorical question expressing the arrogant attitude of wicked people. As far as they are concerned, they are answerable to no one for how they speak. What does Jude v16 say about people who talk like this? What is it about our God that makes Christians feel differently?

v5, We should be careful how we treat people in the world who are poor and afflicted. It is because of how these poor and afflicted people cry and hurt, that Jehovah “springs into action” (hebrew) attah meaning ‘to rise up’ which is the same verb in God’s reaction in the running Father who sees the prodigal son returning repentant. (Luke 15:20) We do not want to be the people who Jesus says would be better off with a millstone tied around our neck drowning in the sea. Read & understand Luke 17:1-2.v6-8, Jehovah will protect and shelter his children who are poor and afflicted. The verbs protect & shelter are both words that make God act like a sentinel watchman weaponized to strike out on threatening enemies. God’s promise of protection, once proven, is as precious as silver refined by fire. Do not forget how priceless our own faith in God is; 1st Peter 1:5-7 uses “Gold” not silver to describe our faith tested & proven in the promises of God.