Devotional: Spiritual Loneliness

Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race. (Psalm 12:1, CSB)

We’ve heard this argument before. “Mom, everyone else has a phone,” or “No one will ever believe you.” The claim of a universal anything is made for affect, to emphasize the preponderance of something. The psalmist needs Yahweh’s help because nobody is loyal or faithful, all are his enemies. That is what it feels like, anyway.

We see this same complaint from a dejected Elijah when confronted by Yahweh:

“What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴ And he said, “I have been very zealous for Yahweh God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

¹⁵ Then Yahweh said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. ¹⁶ Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. ¹⁷ It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. ¹⁸ Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:13-18, NKJV)

In Elijah’s case he may actually have believed that he alone was left among Yahweh’s prophets, because Yahweh has to tell him that is not true, there are 7,000 more.

What about you? Does it feel like you are alone among ungodly people, surrounded by those who oppose the truth? Have those you thought were loyal to God and you betrayed you? Like the psalmist, appeal to Jesus for help. He’s been where you are. He will help you.

“For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.” (Psalm 12:5)

And maybe, just maybe, He will show you that you are not alone, that there are others He has preserved in “Israel” who have not bowed the knees to falsehood.