David
Psalm 12
To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.
Scripture (KJV)
1Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
5For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
8The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
Summary
Psalm 12 is a cry for help in a world where the godly are disappearing and the faithful are vanishing. David laments a society saturated with vanity, flattery, and double-hearted speech. The proud boast that their tongues will prevail and that no one is lord over them, as if speech were free of moral accountability. But the LORD will cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks proud things.
The turning point is God’s own declaration: "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him." God hears the sighs of the needy and rises to act. Verse 6 is the heart of the psalm: "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." In a world of impure speech, God’s Word is perfectly pure, tested and proven. The psalm closes with confidence that the LORD will keep and preserve His people from a generation of wickedness, even when the vilest are exalted. The major themes are truth, God’s Word, oppression, purity, and preservation. Practically, the psalm teaches that in a culture of lies, the pure Word of God is the believer’s anchor. The great lesson is that God’s words, unlike human words, are perfectly pure and eternally reliable.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 12
Help, LORD, for the godly cease and the faithful fail. Vanity and flattery surround me; lips speak with double hearts. Cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks proud things. But I thank You that Your words are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. When the poor are oppressed and the needy sigh, You arise and set them in safety. Keep me, O LORD, and preserve me from this generation. When the wicked walk on every side and the vilest are exalted, anchor my heart in Your pure and tested Word. Let my speech be truthful and my heart undivided. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1Where do I see the "godly ceasing" and the faithful failing in my own context?
- 2How have I been tempted to use flattering lips or a double heart?
- 3What does it mean that God’s words are like silver purified seven times?
- 4How can I anchor myself in God’s pure Word when lies surround me?
Related Psalms
Psalm 11
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Read morePsalm 10
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A lament over the arrogance of the wicked and a plea for God to act for the helpless.
Read morePsalm 9
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Thanksgiving for God’s righteous judgment and a refuge for the oppressed.
Read morePsalm 5
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A morning prayer seeking God’s leading and rejoicing in His protection.
Read morePsalm 15
“Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”
The marks of those fit to dwell with God: integrity, truth, and justice.
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