Prayer Guide: Psalm 12

Psalm 12 (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith.[a] A Psalm of David.

 Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;
    for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
    with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
    the tongue that makes great boasts,
those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
    our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
    I will now arise,” says the Lord;
    “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
The words of the Lord are pure words,
    like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
    purified seven times.

You, O Lord, will keep them;
    you will guard us[b] from this generation forever.
On every side the wicked prowl,
    as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

REVERENCE

God’s praiseworthy attributes found in this text:

  • He saves – vs. 1
  • The cuts off the proud (“flattering lips”)  – vv. 3-4
  • He provides safety for the poor and needy – v. 5
  • His words are pure – v. 6
  • He protects his people from a godless generation – v. 7

Possible prayer prompts:

  • I praise You that You have saved me from . . .
  • I praise You that You can save us even when . . .
  • I praise You that You are able to cut off those who . . .
  • I praise You that You provided safety for me when  . . .
  • Because Your words are pure, they are able to . . .
  • I praise You that You can protect us from . . .

RESPONSE

  • In a world of godlessness, make me a godly example in my relationship with . . .
  • Because faithfulness has vanished, give me grace to be faithful when . . .
  • Because this world is filled with lies, I surrender to Your pure word today and trusting that it will produce ________________ in me.

REQUESTS

  • In the midst of a godless, faithless and dishonest generation, save me from . . .
  • Lord, I am trusting You to keep me safe in the midst of . . .
  • I pray for (name) that You will keep them safe in the midst of . . .
  • I ask that Your pure word will work in me today so that I will . . .
  • I pray that (Name) will embrace Your pure words as they face  . . .
  • I pray that You will guard our children from ___________________ in the midst of a godless generation.

READINESS

  • In this day, when wickedness and vileness is pervasive, we trust that You will guard us from  . . .
    • Antiphonal response: “Keep us and guard us!” or “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”