* This magnificent piece of 10th century art is titled, "Jonah". Four parts of the book are demonstrated. Upper left Jonah is preaching to the people of Nineveh. Upper right Jonah is receiving his commission. Bottom left the sailors are throwing Jonah out of the boat as a big fish awaits with open mouth. Bottom right the fish is spitting Jonah out of it's mouth. This is part of The Paris Psalter. The Paris Psalter is a copy of the 150 Psalms of David, translated from Hebrew into demotic Greek. The Paris Psalter is a Byzantine illuminated manuscript 38 x 26.5 cm in size, containing 449 folios and 14 full-page miniatures. The Paris Psalter is considered a key monument of the so-called Macedonian Renaissance, a 10th-century renewal of interest in classical art closely identified with the emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (909-959) and his immediate successors.
>1. What are people saying to David and why do people say these kind of things? (1-3)
* Psalm 11:1-3 "In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
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* Everyone has had life's foundations, including relational, political, and moral support give way. ("Foundations" in vs 3 is "shata" in Hebrew meaning political and moral support; i.e. 82:5) Most are too familiar with life-pillars unexpected shaking. Just as citizens living in cities built near a seismic fault ask, "What can we do now that shaking has begun?" so when life's foundations are being destroyed we ask, "What can the righteous do?"
Unwise advice answers, "Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart." Perhaps the opinion is from a hero, friend, relative, spouse, or confidant. Perhaps it is from my sinful nature. The advice seems reasonable and wise. But is it? Though a mountain retreat may give temporary relief, if I can flee to the mountain, so the wicked can follow. And what is to eat and drink on a mountain? If I leave without the Lord, can my soul be fed the bread of life when I arrive at the top without him?
"In the LORD I take refuge." When the foundations are being destroyed the righteous can take refuge in the LORD. "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62:1-2)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 11:1-3.
>2. What does verse 4 proclaim about the LORD God?
* Psalm 11:4 "The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them."
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>3. What is the Lord looking for? (5-7)
* Psalm 11:5-7 "The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates.
6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face."
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* The LORD is the covenant name for the God of Israel. Since the LORD came in bodily form he has also been called Jesus. Jesus is now on his heavenly throne. Jesus is observing every act and the motivation for the act of the righteous. He examines their heart. Those that are wicked the LORD, the Righteous One hates for they are those who love violence. A judgment of fiery coals and burning sulfur will come. But the upright will see his face and rejoice.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 11:5-7.
II. The Faithful Have Vanished from Among Men (12:1-8)
* This magnificent piece of 10th century art is titled, "Moses Parts the Sea". It is part of The Paris Psalter. The Paris Psalter is a copy of the 150 Psalms of David, translated from Hebrew into demotic Greek. The Paris Psalter is a Byzantine illuminated manuscript 38 x 26.5 cm in size, containing 449 folios and 14 full-page miniatures. The Paris Psalter is considered a key monument of the so-called Macedonian Renaissance, a 10th-century renewal of interest in classical art closely identified with the emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (909-959) and his immediate successors.
>4. What has happened that David wrote this plead-psalm? (1)
* Psalm 12:1 "Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men."
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* Psalm 12 is a plead-psalm. David is seeking the Lord's help for every tongue seems false, the weak are oppressed, and the needy groan. Looking everywhere he cannot find anyone who is godly. The Hebrew adjective "hasid" is translated as "godly" meaning a kind, virtuous, and moral person. As the Lord later said through the prophet Micah, "What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net." (Micah 7:1-2)
The start of the new year finds many comparing last year to the year before, and last decade to the prior. The new year is a time to consider needed changes; stop doing this and start doing that to improve one's self and perhaps society too. I too examine my society, my acquaintances, and my life. The godly can still be found, yet their numbers have dwindled. Some that I consider friends from days past have lost faith. They live either for themselves or they have begun wearing hypocritical piety.
What of me? Am I a hypocritical follower of Jesus? Has my practical faith in Jesus gone virtual? Does it have a fallacy form and function? Am I moving about and interacting in a false reality and truth? When I examine my motives and heart do I hear the Spirit say to me, "O you of little faith?" (Matthew 6:30, 8:26, 14:31, 16:8) The choice is mine to make. I require a plead-psalm to become "hasid".
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 12:1.
>5. What is condemned by David? How does pride in the wit of the tongue self-deceive?
* Psalm 12:2-4 "Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue
4 that says, "We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips--who is our master?"
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* David's appeal to the Lord in verses 1 and 2 has two parts. First, the faithful, those who are morally true and loyal have disappeared (1). Second, everyone is lying. Their lies are flattery, saying one thing while not believing what they say (2). The worst scenario is when they say kind words while secretly plotting to displace or even kill. False compliments with the intent to win favor are as devastating today as it was in David's time.
David's request to the Lord is in verses 3 and 4. David asks the Lord to cut off all flattering lips. Cut-off does not literally mean physical mutilation. Rather, it poetically means stop the lies and boasting. They are very proud of their crafty words that manipulate others. They plot wicked schemes and implement them with crafty lies. David is asking the Lord to put an end to words that are deadlier than weapons of war.
I pause thinking about the motivation behind my words. Why do I say as I do? If my words are selfish and harmful, then I need to stop talking. My mother told the youthful me, "If you don't have anything nice to say, do not say anything at all." Now I have determined why I am not speaking purely and ask God to change my heart to be like Christ. And not only mine but my enemies as well.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 12:2-4.
>6. Why does the LORD declare that is going to arise and what does he mean? What does David remind himself after the LORD's declaration?
* Psalm 12:5-6 "Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD. "I will protect them from those who malign them."
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times."
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* The Lord responds with a reassuring word to the cast down and to David who presented the request. The Lord God does see the oppression of the weak and he hears the groaning of the needy. After the prayer, the Lord says he will arise and protect them from those who malign them.
I note that there are times when some do experience oppression and groaning. Verse 1 tells me that these people were most likely not godly from the beginning. Most were liars just as their oppressors still are. However, others were more clever in their evil schemes and they lost, falling to the bottom of society. At the bottom they repented, called out to the Lord, and awaited his deliverance. Such is the case of Israel as recorded in the book of Judges. Such is the case for many today.
When God responds with the awaited yes I can be sure that his will expressed in words will come to be (6). This is in sharp contrast with the boastful words of the adversaries. Every word in the Holy Bible is true, exact, and trustworthy. Those who call on the name of the Lord and trust in him during the waiting can take his words to heart. Believe, wait, and trust in the day of deliverance.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 11:5-6.
>7. What must we always be confident of and what does it imply that this needs to be done?
* Psalm 12:7-8 "O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.
8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men."
* If all was good and happiness abounded, then we wouldn't need to remind ourselves of this.
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* Confidence in the Lord is expressed and believed. Though evil people walk around boldly because they have the upper hand, those who trust in the Lord will be strengthened by their God. We know that he protects us from such people forever. Though at present liers oppress and deceive I can have confidence in the love of the maker and sustainer of the universe.
Fear will drive a person to either withdraw from a happy and productive life or drive to sin and destruction. Fear does not exist when I have confidence in the Lord Jesus. Fear and courage are opposites.
When Moses died and the Lord was about to bring the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land Joshua and the people were tempted to be afraid because the wicked Canaanites were proud and confident. It was then that the Lord told Joshua, "Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:6-9) Now is the time for followers of Jesus to be strong and courageous.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 12:7-8.
III. How Long? (13:1-6)
* This magnificent piece of 10th century art is titled, "Moses Receives the Law". It is part of The Paris Psalter. The Paris Psalter is a copy of the 150 Psalms of David, translated from Hebrew into demotic Greek. The Paris Psalter is a Byzantine illuminated manuscript 38 x 26.5 cm in size, containing 449 folios and 14 full-page miniatures. The Paris Psalter is considered a key monument of the so-called Macedonian Renaissance, a 10th-century renewal of interest in classical art closely identified with the emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (909-959) and his immediate successors.
>8. Why might David say that the Lord has forgotten him? What does it mean that the Lord has hidden his face from David? (1) What is David's problem that he asked these two questions? What can we do when we have had enough of a distressed mind and heart?
* Psalm 13:1-2 "How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?"
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>9. How desperate was David? What did he believe was about to happen? (3) What does verse 4 imply that had troubled David's thoughts and emotions?
* Psalm 13:3-4 "Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall."
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>10. What did David decide to do even though his soul was troubled? How does singing praises to the Lord God change our disposition? What can we learn about living by faith and about God?
* Psalm 13:5-6 "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me."
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* Psalm 13 could be titled "How Long" or "Forget Me Not". David, the author is grappling with melancholy and disturbing thoughts. Repeated stupefying speculation has become like an unrelenting railroad wheel clanging over rail cracks. Thought is fixated on his enemy's triumph over him. Sorrow fills his being. He is entangled in his own web.
David emphatically believes the Lord is the soul's balm and the mind's salve, not just the thought of the Lord, but the Lord blended with his spirit. Yet, the Lord is not within. "How long will you hide your face from me?" is bound with "forget my misery and oppression" in Psalm 44:24. This time misery and oppression are self-wrought. He is on death's brink.
Deeply looking into someone's eyes is looking into their being. If the Lord were to look at David, they would be looking into each other's eyes and be one in spirit. David's dark soul would light up when united with the LORD his God.
When mind, soul, and spirit are grappling in dark holes David presents the remedy. Trust in God's unfailing love. Rejoice in Jesus' salvation. Sing to the LORD for he is good to me. These conscience decisions to engage in the irrational balm and salve are not comfortable. Every substance of being resists though it is so easy to do. Open up thy soul. Look into the Lord's eyes. Or mind and soul will sink into death.
