Psalm 12

David placed great confidence in the promises of God to deliver those who look to Him for salvation. This was not easy for the psalmist to do since in his day powerful wicked people were taking advantage of the weak and vulnerable (cf. 11:3).

 1. Plea for deliverance 12:1-4

The multitude of liars and deceivers that surrounded David moved him to cry out to God for deliverance for the godly minority.

12:1-2 It seemed to David, as it did to Elijah years later, that the godly had almost become extinct in Israel. Liars and double-minded flatterers had gradually replaced people who were true to their word and commitments. "Faithful"(v. 1) is hasidthat relates to hesed, which means loyal love or covenant loyalty.

12:3-4 David wished the Lord would end the flattery and arrogant claims of those around him. They confidently believed they could accomplish anything they chose to do by their lies and deception. They also repudiated any restraint of their free speech (cf. James 3:5).

 2. Assurance of deliverance 12:5

We do not know how David received the assurance that God would deal with the liars that troubled him. It may have come directly from God or through a prophet. However in view of the verses that follow the psalmist perceived it as an authoritative promise from God. This is the first of several psalms that contain an answering oracle from the Lord (cf. Pss. 60, 81, 95).

 3. Confidence in God's promise 12:6-8

12:6 In contrast to the promises of the liars that so frustrated David, the Lord's word that he had received (v. 5) was absolutely pure and very precious. He could rely on it completely. Seven was the number the Israelites associated with a perfect work of God going back to the creation of the cosmos in seven days.

12:7 The "them"and "him"in verse 7 in the NASB probably refer to the vulnerable godly referred to in verse 5. The NIV calls them "us."Alternatively David may have meant God's promises (v. 6), but this seems less likely. David received encouragement and confidence from the word of God that assured him of divine protection from the smug liars he found on every hand.

12:8 When people pursue lives of vanity and vile conduct, verbal deception abounds, but God will preserve the godly.

Some believers live and work in environments very similar to the one David pictured in this psalm. It should be a comfort when they feel that speaking the truth is futile. God will preserve those who purpose to follow Him when they must live in atmospheres polluted by deceit and corrupt speech. Though no one else's word may be reliable, His is.