One Verse at a Time

This episode looks at Psalm 13:3, “Look at me! Answer me, O LORD my God! Revive me, or else I will die.” The act of calling upon God to see us helps us see reality clearly: if he doesn’t act, we have no other plan or hope.

This episode looks at Psalm 13:2, “How long must I worry, and suffer in broad daylight? How long will my enemy gloat over me?” David needs help from God to move from verse 2 to verse 5. We need that same help to move beyond worry and into trust.

This episode looks at Psalm 13:1, “How long, LORD, will you continue to ignore me? How long will you pay no attention to me?” This experience is real in the moment, but God only hides his face for a short time compared to the great mercies he has in store for his people. May we be reminded of his smiling face even as we look at a harsh providence for a moment.

This episode looks at Psalm 12:8, “for the wicked seem to be everywhere, when people promote evil.” We need to examine our own capacity to promote evil, whether actively or passively, and work to propagate good and restrain evil in various capacities.

This episode looks at Psalm 12:7, “You, LORD, will protect them; you will continually shelter each one from these evil people.” God will keep his people until the end. Oh, what a joy!

This episode looks at Psalm 12:6, “The LORD’s words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.” God’s words always prove true. May we learn to speak like God, and may we continually trust our faithful God.

This episode looks at Psalm 12:5, “Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action,” says the LORD. “I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.” In trial, suffering, and oppression God sees and God hears. And he will act. This promise provides a strong foundation of comfort and hope.

This episode looks at Psalm 12:4, “They say, “We speak persuasively; we know how to flatter and boast. Who is our master?” Speech such as this fails to account for God as our master and the giver of all good gifts — including the gift of rhetoric and persuasive speech. May we be reminded of God as our Lord and master even as we use the gifts of speech he has given us.

This episode looks at Psalm 12:3, “May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts!” Untruthful speech, whether through flattery or self-flattery, used to gain an advantage over others deserves God’s judgment. May we root this type of speech from our lives, and may we call others to account for it as well.

This episode looks at Psalm 12:2, “People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.” We need God to fill us with integrity so that we refrain from lying, flattering, and deceiving. Then, from this place of integrity, we need wisdom to avoid and call to repentance those who do practice these things.