Psalm 12 is a plead-psalm. David is seeking the Lord’s help for every tongue seems false, the weak are oppressed, and the needy groan. Looking everywhere he cannot find anyone who is godly. The Hebrew adjective “hasid” is translated as “godly” meaning a kind, virtuous, and moral person. As the Lord later said through the prophet Micah, “What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net.” (Micah 7:1-2)
The start of the new year finds many comparing last year to the year before, and last decade to the prior. The new year is a time to consider needed changes; stop doing this and start doing that to improve one’s self and perhaps society too. I too examine my society, my acquaintances, and my life. The godly can still be found, yet their numbers have dwindled. Some that I consider friends from days past have lost faith. They live either for themselves or they have begun wearing hypocritical piety.
What of me? Am I a hypocritical follower of Jesus? Has my practical faith in Jesus gone virtual? Does it have a fallacy form and function? Am I moving about and interacting in a false reality and truth? When I examine my motives and heart do I hear the Spirit say to me, “O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30, 8:26, 14:31, 16:8) The choice is mine to make. I require a plead-psalm to become “hasid”.
