Psalm 12

In our study of Psalm 12, we look at the present and future struggles between those that hold onto the truth and those that do not.

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Psalm 12:1

For the leader. On sh’minit. A psalm of David: Help, Adonai! For no one godly is left;

This psalm was probably sang with the playing of an eight stringed lyre in the background and we are reminded that, throughout the Bible, the number eight speaks of redemption. David begins with a cry out to God for freedom and you can almost feel the pain and despair but why is he crying out? The word that is translated as "faithful" here is actually the Hebrew word "chaciyd" which actually means kind. So, what does it mean to be kind? In Galatians 5, we see that kindness is one of the fruits that comes from the presence of the Spirit of God in our lives and it refers to caring for others.

David goes on to say that all of the loyal people are gone and this is speaking of those who hold firm to the truth which is the word of God. We must remember that King David knew a little bit about loyalty and the lack of loyalty as his son, Absalom, had tried to overthrow him. The Hebrew word that is translated here as "loyal" is "aman" and it actually means certain or firm in their trust. God had commanded the people to honor their father and mother and David's son had abandoned the word of God in order to elevate himself. King David was feeling alone and abandoned as many of those that he had trusted had joined with Absalom in rebellion.

This psalm also looks ahead to the time of the Great Tribulation when most of those who have held firm to Yeshua Messiah have been removed from the earth. During that time, caring for others will be practically unheard of and that is a sign of the end of times as described by Yeshua. (See Matthew 24:12)

Psalm 12:2

They all tell lies to each other, flattering with their lips, but speaking from divided hearts.

King David continues to describe what he saw as he looked around him and it was a world in which there were very few that could be trusted.

It seems like this is even more true today than it has ever been before as politicians especially but also people in general will say whatever they feel is necessary to get what they want. We must remember that Yeshua Messiah is the truth and that Satan is the father of lies and liars. Once nations and people abandon truth, the only other option is to follow the ways of the devil. That leads to a very dark world as described in the book of Revelation.

Psalm 12:3 & 4

May Adonai cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks so proudly, those who say, “By our tongues, we will prevail; our lips are with us. Who can master us?”

David sees that what is left is a bunch of deceiving smooth talkers. They speak of the power of their tongues and this phenomenon is even more common in our world today. Today, there are many Christians that have fallen victim to these smooth talkers in what is commonly called the "name it and claim it" or prosperity gospel movement.

Psalm 12:5

“Because the poor are oppressed, because the needy are groaning, I will now rise up,” says Adonai, “and grant security to those whom they scorn.”

Here, we see God's answer to David's prayer and it is the fact that he will bring salvation to those who hold to the truth. We see that God gives his reasons and they are the fact that the poor and needy are crying out to him. When david looked around him, what he saw was simply a bunch of people that had turned away from the truth of God and were all about serving themselves. This is even mre prevalent in our world today as greed is esteemed and wealth is hoarded and used as a status symbol. This, my friends, is satanic in origin and we can rest assured of the fact that God's answer to David's prayer is for us as well.

Psalm 12:6-8

The words of Adonai are pure words, silver in a melting-pot set in the earth, refined and purified seven times over. You, Adonai, protect us; guard us forever from this generation — the wicked strut about everywhere when vileness is held in general esteem.

The song ends with the assurance that the truth is pure and holy and that God will preserve his people and bring them into his kingdom. In the end, we will see the triumph of truth even though we may not see it in the world today.