Overcoming 2: Life Lessons From the PsalmsSample

Down But Not Out

Psalm 12:1–2 (NIV84): “Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. 2 Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.”

Psalm 12: 8 (NIV84): “The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.”

David the Psalmist is down but not out. He is discouraged but not defeated. He is feeling overwhelmed, but he has not given up. He is feeling lonely, but he knows he is not alone.

Everywhere he looked, he saw evil. The nightly news and the local newspaper were constantly reporting on who did what to whom. Even his neighbors were on the news. I am thankful the Spirit of God inspired David to put into words the feelings he was having. This Psalm is the counsel of God to those who have felt the same way David was feeling.

As I read this Psalm, I could not help thinking how little things have changed. The Psalmist is living in a time where the voices of those who deny the ways of God are louder than the voices of those who follow His ways. The Psalmist’s sentiment is mine. He, in his day, and I, in mine, feel overwhelmed by the influencers of our day. What was once honorable is now dishonorable. What was once dishonorable is now honorable. Help, Lord...

How are we to process discouragement? When evil appears to be winning, how do we respond? When the ways of God and the counsel of Scripture are disrespected and abandoned, how do we manage the internal turmoil that occurs within us? What can we do when our emotions have been darkened by the issues around us? How do we keep our faith when nobody around us agrees with our convictions and faith?

From this Psalm and other Psalms, we can learn and apply biblical principles that sustain our faith in God in a world where faith in God seems to have disappeared. If David were to visit our home to encourage us from his journal (Psalm 12), here are the tips I think he would share with us:

Tip #1: Stay true in your allegiance to God through His Word.

The main influencers in the Psalmist’s life were the Word and the presence of God. The loudest voice in his life was the Voice of the Lord. While spiritual erosion cut away the convictions and faith of those around him, the Word of God kept the soil of his heart intact. He fastened himself to the truth of God’s Word. He wrote in verse six, “And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.” The amount of time he devoted to hearing the Voice of Truth empowered him to identify and deny the crafty and deceptive voices of those around him. Only the Word of God kept him centered and purified from him the false messages he received from those in his era. The same is true for us. The flawless Word of God echoing and anchoring in our soul prohibits the erosion of truth. Typically, erosion is not a fast process. It happens a little at a time over time. Only the flawless and pure Word of God echoing can keep us secure in our convictions and faith.

Do you remember the story of Adam and Eve? It was the deceptive voice of Satan in the Garden of Eden that led Eve and Adam to reject God’s instruction. They paid a hefty price for their disobedience to God’s Word. Satan attempted to do the same with Jesus (Matthew 4). Jesus responded to Satan with the brilliance of God’s Word. Satan left him in defeat. We must counter the voices of our society in the same manner. We must continuously open and embrace the inspired Word of God. We must allow it to sink deeper into our values, convictions, and behaviors.

Tip #2: Employ the powerful choice of communing with God.

David poured out his soul to the Lord. He shared his discouragement in the presence of the Lord. He took his worries to the Father. He could have voiced his discouragement and complained about the direction of his country to his friends or on social media, and maybe he did do some of that. But clearly, he spent time in the presence of God to direct his angst upward. Likewise, let us choose to take our discouragement to the Lord more than anyone else. In His presence, let us acknowledge our discouragement, say it, shout it, write it down, and pour it out. He can manage it.

Tip #3: Stay in the presence of God to be encouraged by Him.

As David begins to write verse five, something amazing happens. As he is journaling his discouragement (verses one through four), a word of encouragement washes across his soul (verse five). As David voiced his angst to the Lord, the Lord responded with His voice. “…I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” God spoke a word of encouragement to David’s discouraged soul. God is amazing in that way. David is having a monologue with God, but God turns the moment into a dialogue. That, my friend, is the whole point of the Psalm. God knows how to reach each of us in our discouragement and can lift us up when nothing else can. His written Word and His personal whispers to our soul can create a miracle of faith and focus within us. The Word of God is the Voice of God. Read it and listen to Him. His words in us can do what no other word from any other voice can do.

Tip #4: Shine and reflect.

The encouragement of the Lord within David empowered him to rise above the discouragement he expressed in verses one through four. God’s voice inspired him “to keep on keeping on.” He was energized to continue to reflect God’s eternal truth. He references the encouragement he received to the beauty of silver (verse six). When the silversmiths of David’s day refined the ore of silver seven times, it was magnificent. Refined silver was used to decorate the king’s palace and properties. It shined and caused others to be in awe of its beauty. God’s presence and truth in David reflected the brilliance of THE King. We, as David, are to be a brilliant reflection of the Lord. His reflection through us helps to counter the wicked culture around us (see verse 8).

Friend, when discouraged, do as the Psalmist did. Engage the spiritual practices that will place you in the presence of the Lord. As you do, you will be encouraged and instructed on how to move forward.

David could have remained in a state of discouragement and defeat. He did not. I genuinely believe when he finished writing this Psalm, he got up from his kitchen table with a confidence that the Lord was at work, and he went about his day reflecting upon the faithfulness of God. I pray you do the same.