Pastor's Ponderings: Old Testament bible study of Psalm 12 (March 29, 2025)

March 29, 2025:  Thursday (Saturday) Bible Study on Psalm 12

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ on this beautiful Saturday morning. Yes, I know that it is Saturday and not Thursday. This past week my computer has really been struggling to load and keep the internet running in a constant stream. The computer takes 20 minutes or more just to open to the point that I am able to use the internet, and then another 15 minutes to download the internet, and then the internet is intermittent at best. I am using it today, but I am not certain that it will continue to work smoothly. The internet just went off on this computer for a minute. All of this makes working really interesting. Thanks for understanding - There is a new computer on the way! Please keep everyone who is impacted by all of the changes in the Government and the benefits that our citizens depend on. Our member Kandice is having to recertify her status and illness level with the state and federal program that have been giving her disability coverage for her stage four cancer. It puts a great deal of pressure on Lisa too. Teri's news is that a new orthopedist is now seeking to do her necessary surgery, but it is entirely dependent on her insurance company paying its share, and Banner hospital's willingness to cover the now $20,000 additional cost. If approved, it will move forward, taking several months for the newly developed replacement to be custom built to fit Teri's hip.  So, please continue to hold her in your prayers every day. I know that these folks who are our sisters in Christ truly give thanks to God for your prayers on their behalf. Please keep Regina in your prayers for issues she is having with her eyes, which require special medical care. Pray too for Tricia, who is awaiting decisions about treatment options for breast cancer. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving that Gail's knee replacement surgery was successful, and that she is doing well at home.

Our Psalm today is the 12th. This text begins with the claim that there is an extreme absence of people of faith, good people, who know and do right in the land. The Psalmist tells us that people cover their true nature and are false in their devotion and faithfulness for the good of their nation and communities. These faithless people believe that their false words will cover their intent and believe that through their thinking and speaking they will have everything they need to remain in power just because they have everybody fooled. Next the Psalmist moves on to tell his readers that there are signs of the truth of this reality in his nation. The lowly are being destroyed, and the needy are crying out for someone to help them in their circumstances, and it is in the face of this unholy injustice that the LORD will choose to rise up and will take the action for which the faithful have been waiting.  Because of the Psalmist's certainly of the LORD'S action to deal with this situation, words from the writer of this Psalm, who may well be David, offer praise to God for the power of His actions on behalf of the downtrodden, but even at that, tells us that the faithless people will always be in the midst of the community, that they will never be fully defeated, and that is because of their sin and brokenness (worthlessness)  that will always be a part of people’s lives.  In this battle of good and evil, God will always remain to carry out His justice. I know that this Psalm leaves some unanswered questions for us, but ultimately, God's answer will be the coming Messiah who will judge both the faithful and the unfaithful, who will establish for the LORD a kingdom of the faithful people.  When we move to Psalm 13 next week, we will see that question HOW LONG will it be? That is the question that may have been on your mind as we moved through this Psalm of David.

Thank you so much for your patience this week. I am looking forward to a new computer soon.

With love in Christ, Pastor Kim