For the choir director; upon an eight-stringed lyre.
A Psalm of David.
Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be,
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
[2] They speak falsehood to one another;
With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
[3] May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that speaks great things;
[4] Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"
[5] "Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now I will arise," says the Lord; "I will set him in the safety for which he longs."
[6] The words of the Lord are pure words;
As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
[7] Thou, O Lord, wilt keep them;
Thou wilt preserve him from this generation forever.
[8] The wicked strut about on every side,
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
Psalm 12 - Psalm 12:1-8
Open It
* 1. What character traits do your friends and co-workers value most?
2. Why do people lie?
3. In what ways do you think Christians should be different from non-Christians?
* 4. What was on David’s mind? (12:1-2)
5. How did David describe the problem that concerned him? (12:1-2)
6. What spiritual problem unifies this poem? (12:1-8)
7. What evidence did David give to prove that the “faithful have vanished”? (12:2)
8. What attitude do the wicked have toward themselves and God? (12:3-4)
9. Of what sins were the wicked guilty? (12:3-4)
* 10. What attitudes and behavior did David ask the Lord to put a stop to? (12:3-4)
11. What motivates the Lord to take action on behalf of His people? (12:5)
* 12. What reassuring word from the Lord follows David’s plea for help? (12:5-6)
13. How did God reassure David? (12:5-6)
14. How did David describe the word of the Lord? (12:6)
15. What are God’s words like? (12:6)
16. How did David demonstrate his trust in the Lord? (12:7)
17. How did David show his belief and confidence in God? (12:7)
18. In what way was David’s expression of confidence in God an act of faith? (12:8)
19. Why did David need faith? (12:8)
21. When have you ever had to step out in faith to trust in the Lord?
22. Why do you think God leaves us in difficult circumstances instead of rescuing us from our problems immediately?
23. What circumstances or people has God used in your life to stretch your faith?
24. In light of what you have learned from this passage, what new perspective should you have about the challenges you face?
25. When are you most tempted to lie?
26. In what ways do people twist the truth to manipulate others?
* 27. According to this passage, what attitudes and behaviors do we need to guard against?
* 28. How can we show respect for the truth?
Apply It
* 30. What specific steps could you take to guard against lying?
31. How can you encourage a friend who is going through a difficult time?
Not being duplicitous.
Not speaking vanity to my fellow man.
Speaking like the LORD, pure words.
