Psalm 12
From Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis:
I think that when I began to read it [the protests of the Psalter against other sins of the tongue] these surprised me a little; I had half expected that in a simpler and more violent age when more evil was done with the knife, the big stick, and the firebrand, less would be done by talk. But in reality the Psalmists mention hardly any kind of evil more often than this one, which the most civilised societies share. “Their throat is an open sepulchre, they flatter” (5:10), “under his tongue is ungodliness and vanity”, or “perjury” as Dr. Moffatt translates it (10:7), “deceitful lips” (12:3), “lying lips” (31:20), “words full of deceit” (36:3), the “whispering” of evil men (41:7), cruel lies that “cut like a razor” (52:3), talk that sounds “smooth as oil” and will wound like a sword (55:22), pitiless jeering (102:8). It is all over the Psalter. One almost hears the incessant whispering, tattling, lying, scolding, flattery, and circulation of rumours. No historical readjustments are here required, we are in the world we know. We even detect in that muttering and wheedling chorus voices which are familiar. One of them may be too familiar for recognition. (p. 75)
Psalm 13
From The Psalms for Today by Beth LaNeel Tanner:
Censoring our words says that the relationship has limits and parameters, but telling God how we feel even when we think that God is the problem is being all that God created us to be…When did it become not OK to tell God just how we feel about life and even about God? (pp. 62-63)
To speak honestly and demand that God come and do something speaks volumes about the relationship between the one praying and God. If I dare to speak my fears and my greatest hurts, then I am also acknowledging the importance of this other to me and the power that this other has in my life. (p. 64)
But what of lament? When does church gather to cry out, either for itself or for the injustice in our world? All around us we have people who are hurting, people who would rather hear Psalm 13 on a Sunday morning than another story where Jesus heals. (p. 68)
These prayers demand that we hear the pain of the world, just as God hears our pain, and once their pain is heard we are called to act to restore their lives and end their cries. (p. 69)
From The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms by Timothy Keller with Kathy Keller
Psalm 12
THE POWER OF WORDS. Perhaps it has never been truer than now that “what is vile is honored by the human race.” Christians need God’s protection from lies, slander, and deception, because words have enormous power not only to distort and wound but also to overthrow a whole culture (verses 3-5, 7-8; cf. James 3:1-11). The great danger is to respond in kind. Instead we must model our words on God’s—true and well-crafted (verse 6). Our job is to trust In God’s protection and to copy the actions of our Master and Savior, Jesus, who when he was reviled did not revile. We give glory to God when we suffer without hatred and retaliation.
Prayer
Lord, I am surrounded by people whose words are either fawning and flattering or malicious and stinging. Don’t let me imitate them. Make my words honest and true, economical and few, wise and well chosen, calm and kind. Give me so much love and grace that this kind of conversation comes naturally to me. Amen. (p. 18)
Psalm 13
HONESTY. David is in agony and can’t feel the presence of God. He cries out that God has ignored his pain and his sorrow. It is almost a howl, and the fact that it is included in the Bible tells us that God wants to hear our genuine feelings, even if they are anger at him. David never stops praying, however, and that is the key. As long as we howl toward God and remember his salvation by grace (verse 5), we will end at a place of peace. If Christians do that by hearing Jesus praying verses 1-4 on the cross, losing the Father’s face as he paid for our sins, we will be able to pray verses 5-6 indeed.
Prayer
“‘Tempest-tossed soul, be still; my promised grace receive’; ’Tis Jesus speaks—I must, I will, I can, I do believe.” Lord, this reminds me that believing the promise of your presence in my suffering takes time, and grows slowly, through stages in prayer. So I will pray until my heart rejoices in you. Amen.