Daily Devotions
Psalms
"May the LORD cut off all flattering lips..."
Day 89 – Psalm 12
“May the LORD cut off all flattering lips…” Psalm 12:3
SUBSTANCE OF THE CRY FOR HELP
What was the substance of David’s cry for help? Let us ponder this text!
“May the LORD cut of all flattering lips,
And the tongue that speaks proud things,
Who have said, ‘With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own, who is lord over us?’The wicked prowl on every side,
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.”
Psalm 12:3-4, 8
1. Consciousness of the rising sense of treasonous thoughts
a) The hypocrisy of flattering lips was noted.
b) The tongue that speaks proud things
i) These people are most likely those who were in power.
ii) They were growing in confidence of the power their tongue seemed to wield.
iii) They believed that collectively they could prevail…even against the king himself.
iv) They were on the verge of treason for they were suggesting that they recognized and owned no lord…
c) The wicked
i) They seemed to be growing in numbers (Psalm 3:1).
ii) They were like wild animals, prowling about the country.
d) Vileness exalted
i) The practice of flattering, pride, arrogance etc seemed to be increasing.
ii) The wicked seemed bent on exalting vileness.
2. Crying out to the LORD
a) A heart-felt cry for help went forth from the lips of David first (Psalm 12:1a).
b) An imprecatory cry went out next!
This cry was for the Lord to exercise Divine justice and to cut off all the wicked people in court, if not in the entire land!