Peter Barnes: When Evil Dominates, Psalm 12 (Sunday 3 May 2020 Morning Service, 9.00 a.m.)
Perhaps this Psalm came from the time when David was on the run from Saul, or perhaps from the time of Absalom’s rebellion, where the way was paved by Absalom’s deceptive and self-serving words. Yet it could be last night’s news.
1. A culture of lies. – 12:1-4. There has been a general takeover of lies. There are spin doctors, advertisers, political campaigns, and prosperity gospellers abound. Spurgeon: ‘Lies hunt in packs.’ – a lying culture is a dying culture – Isa.28:14-16; Jer.12:6; Rom.3:13-14. – a journalist said to me: ‘Anyway, no one keeps his word in this business.’ The result is a culture that is corrupt – 12:5a.
2. The purity of God’s Word. – 12:5b-6. There is the contrast set out before us: the lies of society and the truth of God. If we belong to God, we believe His Word – Joshua 23:14; 1Kings 8:56; Ps.19:7; John 17:17. Martin Luther: And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear for God has willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo! His doom is sure: One little word shall fell him.
3. God’s promise of protection. – 12:5b, 7-8; Psalm 121:1-8
Watch the service below.