Psalms 12

David cries out because honest, faithful people seem to have disappeared and lies fill the land. God answers that He Himself will rise to defend the poor and needy. His words are pure and can be trusted, even while the wicked strut about.

Psalms 12:1

David feels alone. Loyal, godly people seem gone, and he can only cry for help. Notice that he takes his loneliness straight to the LORD. When trust among people fails, prayer is still open.

BSA: faithful (“loyal, trustworthy”): The loss is not just of religious people but of people whose word and loyalty you can count on.

Hebrew: הוֹשִׁיעָה (hoshiah, H3467) — “save, deliver.” This is the plain cry for rescue, from the same root as the name Jesus. It is a short, urgent prayer from someone who cannot fix things himself.

See also: 1 Kings 19:10.

Psalms 12:2

Daily speech has become dishonest. People deceive their neighbors with pleasant words while meaning something else. Trust cannot survive where words are only tools for getting ahead.

BSA: double heart (“divided, insincere”): The heart is split: one thing on the lips, another within. flattering (“smooth”): The lips are smooth and slippery, pleasing to hear but not true.

Hebrew: בְּלֵב וָלֵב (beleb va-leb, H3820) — “with a heart and a heart.” The Hebrew literally says ‘with a heart and a heart.’ The speaker has two hearts, so nothing he says can be taken at face value.

See also: James 1:8.

Psalms 12:3

David asks the LORD to deal with proud, deceitful speech. He does not take revenge himself but leaves judgment to God. Boasting and flattery both exalt self and harm others.

BSA: boastful (“proud, arrogant”): The tongue speaks great things about itself, as if no one were above it.

See also: Psalm 52:1-4.

Psalms 12:4

The wicked boast that words are their weapon and no one has authority over them. They think speech belongs to them alone, and they answer to nobody. They forget that God hears every word.

BSA: prevail (“succeed, overcome”): They trust clever talk to win every argument and every advantage.

See also: Matthew 12:36.

Psalms 12:5

Now God Himself speaks. He has heard the groans of the poor and will stand up for them. The wicked say, ‘Who is our master?’ and the LORD answers by rising to act. The needy are not forgotten.

BSA: arise (“come to their help, rise up to defend them”): God is pictured as standing up from His throne to act for the weak. yearns (“panteth for, is longing for”): The needy person is panting for safety, and God promises to give it.

Hebrew: אָקוּם (aqum, H6965) — “I will arise.” God stands up to act. The word suggests that He has been patient, but now moves in decisive help.

See also: Psalm 9:18; Exodus 3:7.

Psalms 12:6

Against human lies stands God’s word, which is pure through and through. Like silver refined again and again, it holds no hidden falsehood. What He promises in verse 5 can be trusted completely.

BSA: flawless (“perfect, without error”): God’s words contain no impurity, mistake or deceit. sevenfold (“seven times, completely”): Seven means fullness: the purity is complete.

Hebrew: טְהֹרוֹת (tehorot, H2889) — “pure, clean.” The same word is used for clean things in worship. God’s words are clean, with nothing mixed in, which contrasts with the smooth, mixed speech of verse 2.

See also: Psalm 19:7-9; Proverbs 30:5.

Psalms 12:7

David moves from God’s promise to confidence. The LORD will keep His people safe and guard them from the corrupt age around them. The protection reaches beyond today, for ever.

BSA: keep (“preserve, protect”): God preserves His people as one guards a precious thing. generation (“present, evil”): The danger is the surrounding wicked age, from which God shields His own.

See also: John 17:15; Jude 1:24.

Psalms 12:8

The psalm ends honestly. The wicked still strut about, and what is vile is honored. God’s promise stands, but the trouble has not yet gone away. Faith keeps holding His word while waiting.

BSA: exalted (“honoured, promoted”): Society lifts up what is worthless and rewards it. wander freely (“walk on every side, are freely roaming”): The wicked prowl around everywhere with no one to stop them.

See also: Psalm 73:3-17.