He Will Arise (Psalm 12)

CONSIDER THIS

Today’s post is from A Meditative Journey Through the Psalms by Timothy and Julie Tennent. Most recently, he served as the president of Asbury Theological Seminary among other posts he holds across the global church. She is a gifted musician and was one of the driving forces that helped bring to fruition the Seedbed hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise. We will share some of their writing on the Psalms on Sundays.

The key phrase of this psalm is the steadfast promise of the Lord, reflected in the four words “I will now arise” (v. 5). The psalmist looks out on the high noon of the wicked. The “godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men” (v. 1). “Everyone lies to his neighbor” and speaks with “flattering lips” and “deception” (v. 2). The wicked are completely convinced of the power of their arguments against the righteous. They declare, “We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips—who is our master?” (v. 4). However, the wicked then, as well as now, forget that God always has the final word! This psalm intentionally sets up the tension between God’s speech and truth, on the one side, and the lies and deception of the world on the other. As Christians reading this psalm, we exult in the truth that the ultimate word is not that of the wicked, but the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. He is the final arbiter of human history. In Jesus Christ, God arises! Thus, in the very hour when it seems that the wicked have prevailed with their own clever arguments, the whole edifice of the wicked will come crashing down because God arises. His words alone are “flawless” (v. 6). Through the eyes of faith, we know that he will vindicate us and overpower the wicked.

Interestingly, the psalm does not end on this note of triumph. Instead, when the psalmist opens his eyes, he still sees that the wicked “freely strut about when what is vile is honored” (v. 8). The psalm ends by reminding us that despite the final assurance we have, we still live in the daily tension whereby “we do not see everything subject to him” (Heb. 2:8). We must live our lives in what is called the already-not-yet tension. The kingdom has already broken into the present evil world. The final verdict on the wicked has already been announced. In the meantime, the kingdom of God is not yet finally consummated. We eagerly await that final day when he will set things right and what we now know only by faith, we will then possess by sight.

For the Awakening,
Timothy and Julie Tennent

THE HYMN

Sing Psalm 12 with the Seedbed Psalter today. I suggest the tune “St. Anne” (“O God Our Help in Ages Past”). You can hear the tune played online by Julie Tennent here. If you listen to the podcast audio version, I will sing the psalm in this same tune. For your convenience, the words from the Psalter are printed below. 

1   Help, Lord, for godly ones are gone, the faithful are no more;
2   And everyone speaks flatt’ring lies, which from their lips do pour.

3   May God the Lord end flatt’ring lips and tongues that boast great things;
4   That say, “Our tongues prevail, so who can lordship o’er us bring?”

5   “Because the needy are oppressed,” the Lord says, “I’ll arise!
I will protect and keep them safe from all those who malign.”

6   The Lord’s words are both true and pure, like silver that’s refined;
They’re pure like silver fired within a furnace seven times.

7   O Lord, You will protect and save from wicked far and near,
8   For sinners freely strut about when vileness is revered.

P.S. Get the Resources

If you would like to have the meditations and the metrical psalter in a beautiful two-volume set—which I highly recommend— you can order those through the Seedbed store.