Psalm 12

 Psalm 12

Psalm presents an answer of the LORD to two challenges: (1) lips and tongues; (2) perversion of justice.

David begins with a call to save (v. 1).

Ultimately, the psalm describes a situation of life for a godly person in an extremely ungodly society. Similar account we will find later in the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120 – 134). The whole series begins with the almost identical claims – lying lips and deceitful tongue (Psalm 120:2). Knowing that the words are prime means of interaction, the society is in deep … trouble when all the people are lying, flattering, and boasting.   

 

vv. 2-4 lips and tongues.

Lips in the Bible are symbols of worship. See Ps. 51:15. It is the Lord who opens the lips (+). 

When the lips are properly opened, then we can share the words – creating the culture of life around us using our tongues.  

But it can be used otherwise too. The parade example of lips and tongues/mouth destructive powers is the story of the Tower of Babel, Genesis 11:1-10.

When lips are sharing vanities (better than lies v. 2a) and hearts are “doubled,” meaning have double standards, then the society can be fixed only by God. So, He comes and talks (vv. 5-6). 

 

vv. 5-6, LORD fixes justice in the land by His WORD.

The LORD identified the poor and needy – providing safety for him. Those who are poor – they are needy. The problem is solved by the word of God. The word is a conversational speech. The Hebrew language has three main words to describe a speech: to converse, to [give a] talk, to instruct (as a parent to a disobedient child). Here we have the first one – God brings His words in the midst of the people, so humans can interact with Him. In the past God would send prophets to talk to men. Who is the Word of God, who walked and talked among the people? Jesus – John 1:1-3, 14, 18.     

v. 7, Call upon the LORD to guard.

The idea of guarding is expressed in two verbs: to keep and to preserve. To keep is to defend from an assault. To preserve is to protect from the inner rottenness or corrosion. There are always two main challenges for the Church – attacks from outside and hypocrisy within. See Nehemiah 4:15-20, Israelites constructing the walls of Jerusalem.    

v. 8 not “a happy ever after”

David gives a realistic picture. Until the very end – the Second coming of Christ – the faithful ones (v. 1) will be under stress from the wicked. They are going to paise what should’ve been despised. As a result, the wicked walk around freely. This sad reality makes our desire to see Jesus sooner even stronger. For the wicked don’t give up easily. As Dr. Luther commented: “This does not happen without cross and agony. As silver is purified in the fire, so the saints also must suffer in the meantime, and by this means become even more pure and perceive the truth so much more clearly.” (Reading the Psalms with Luther, p. 36).  

SERMONS: How Tongue Works

 How Tongue Works

Texts: James 3:13-4:10                           Mark 9:30-37

I. Intro – Overview of the Series

Faith reflected in Deeds (let’s make it TC).

Deeds should be supported with the Speech.

 

II. St. James on wisdom.

The prime exhibition of wisdom is relationship with others.

St. James identifies two types of “wisdom” – heavenly and earthly.

The earthly is not “street smarts” – it is ambitious attempt to do it “my way”

It is no different from what the disciples went through – Mark 9:34, who is the greatest?

Jesus shows them the one who is growing – a child.

A child in faith who is meek (James 3:13), drawn to God, pure in heart, and humble before the Lord (James 4:8, 10).    

 

III. Take away.

I will leave you with an option.

Recently, the Board of Elders ran stats research for the last three post-covid years. With 5 to 10 people leaving Zion to Glory, with some families moving out of the state for a variety of reasons, we have a stable attendance. What does it mean? It means that so far God trusts us with new people…

Here is the option: 

are we going to treat our church as a dysfunctional family, 

or a family based on His love extending from the Cross forgiving each other and helping in the paths of maturation.

FAITH and TONGUE

Sermon on James: Faith and Tongue

the video is here (go to 29:20).

Texts: James 3:1-12

Mark 9:14-29

I. Intro – Rubik’s cube example. right color, right place on a surface, right place on in the cube. 

Like word: What? When? To whom?

 

II. St. James on tongue.

The rule of tongue – teachers first, but also everyone. James shifts really fast into “us” and “we all”.

Tongue twisters – not a set of educational phrases but a use of tongue for blessing of God and cursing the people (images of God) at the same time (James 3:10).

            Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew

Petruchio: Come, come, you wasp, i’faith you are too angry.
Katherine: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
Petruchio: My remedy is then to pluck it out.
Katherine: Ay, if the fool could find where it lies.
Petruchio: Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? In his tail.
Katherine: In his tongue.
Petruchio: Whose tongue?
Katherine: Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell.
Petruchio: What, with my tongue in your tail?
(II.i.207–214)

            Mark 9 – foaming mouth (v. 20) – we are like a poor boy who was overcome by the evil spirit. Then father, friends, disciples of Jesus could not help – nothing could be done but to invite Jesus.

Coming to the Lord’s Supper we take Jesus Himself to our mouth and He touches our tongues, healing our speech.  

 

III. Take away.

The boy was saved by Jesus who teaches that these problems can be combated by the prayer. Not many-many-many words, but a set of Biblical passage that we speak to invoke the presence of God in our lives. The Liturgy teaches us how to use tongue.

Confessing Almighty Father who sent

His Son – for His sake we have the forgiveness and now

Guided by the Holy Spirit we can learn and grow in our godly usage of tongue