I’ll use Psalms 31:1-3a, 20:1-4, and 20:6 with 18:46.
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures, reading Psalms 11. The Mind of the Spirit stirred the spirit of my mind at Psalm 12:1:
Psalms 12:1 ¶ Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
Coming off Psalm 11, Psalm 12:1 caused me to pause and reflect. In Psalm 11, David declared that his confidence in God’s protection was so strong that he questioned how anyone could advise him to “Flee as a bird to your mountain” (Psalm 11:1). He described the danger that threatened him: the wicked had their arrows readied in their bows to attack the foundations that support our peace, and prosperity (Psalm 11:2-3). But David knew where to find His GOD: “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold [gaze intelligently, examine], his eyelids try [test, investigate], the children of men” (Psalm 11:4). David knew that the LORD looked at the wicked differently. His soul hates the wicked, and him who “loveth violence” (Psalm 11:5). So he knew their end: “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright (Psalm 11:6-7).
When I went on to Psalm 12:1, and read, “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men,” I thought, God has His eye on the righteous, and there are not many to see. Psalm 12 suggests a scenario in which the ungodly prevail over the godly (Psalm 12:2-4). The reason for this condition is indicated in verses 6-8, along with the remedy: God will see the oppression of the poor and hear the sighing of the needy, and will arise to their defense (Psalm 12:5). During such times, GOD will act to preserve His words, and that’s where we go to find the help we need when the godly man ceaseth and the faithful fail (Psalm 12:1). It concludes with a warining of what produces this condition: “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted” (Psalm 12:8).
Along the still waters, it occurred to me that praise, or exaltation, of the wicked calls them out into public to “walk on every side.” What calls GOD to walk in our company: He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). Jesus made that observation while He suffered upon the Cross, surrounded by wicked and cruel men (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 26:46; Mark 15:34).
We are surrounded by the wicked, boasting themselves to be the righteous, while the godly seed “ceaseth,” that is, he quits, he does not put up a defense, he retreats, disengages, and no longer mounts a defense. Therefore, the faithful fail, that is, disperse, and disappear. This yields the battlefield to the “vilest men.”
I am concerned! One has only to look at what has happened in New York City to find a clear illustration of this truth.
Nevertheless, God has preserved His word, and if the godly seed of Christ, and the faithful who know Him and are known by Him, will take it up as the “Sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17; see verses 12-19), and in full armor, “stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11), we can reclaim terriroty lost to the wicked.
In the valley, Jesus drew me into the shadow of His Cross, where He felt Himself surrounded by evil men, and swarmed by devils, Satan himself prowling among the wicked, taunting Him. I believe He distinctly told me something I had not thought of before. Jerry, before you put on the armor, you must deny yourself and take up your cross. I held that thought for a while. In spiritual warfare, we must “take up our cross” before we “pick up the Sword.” We must strip ourselves of self, for the armor is not fitted for the old man, but the new (Colossians 3:9-10; see Ephesians 4:22-23).
At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy attended us, following as we went into the harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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