Run Over by Ego
Opening Prayer
You, Lord, are the one in whom I trust. You are the one I will lift up.
Read Psalm 12:1-8
[1] For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. [2] Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. [3] May the LORD silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue- [4] those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us-who is lord over us?” [5] “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” [6] And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. [7] You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, [8] who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is God’s response to the attitudes demonstrated?Jesus warned, “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you” (Luke 6:26). The psalmist is aware of the danger. Assuming that this psalm was written by David, we can imagine that he had no shortage of people around him stroking his ego. He was a national hero after slaying Goliath and songs were sung about his exploits (1 Sam. 18:6,7). But David has no time for flatterers (where others inflate our ego), or boasters (who inflate their own egos;3). The casualty of flattery is truth (2). The damage of boastfulness is that we start believing our own hype (4a) and begin to strut about, acting out our egos (4b,8). Flattery and boasting inevitably require unfavorable comparisons. This was the substance of Jesus’ parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18). To be triumphant (4) requires somebody to be beaten–in this case the poor (5). Their cause is upheld by one who doesn’t deceive (6). Notice that the psalmist includes himself among those who need God’s protection (7). He knows that you can’t be both egocentric and God-centered.
Apply
Only God can deliver us from a needy ego. As you pray, ask God to be at the center of your life and identity.
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