Psalms 12 - Introduction

A prayer for help in an age of apparently universal hypocrisy, dissimulation, and untrustworthiness. The title assigns it to David, who might have written it while he was at the court of Saul, or during his outlaw life. Men like Doeg were in positions of authority. Unscrupulous enemies were poisoning Saul's mind against him (1 Samuel 26:19). The ungrateful citizens of Keilah were ready to betray their deliverer (1 Samuel 23:11). The Ziphites deliberately meditated treachery (1 Samuel 23:19 ff.).

The situation of the writer resembles that described in Psalms 5. [Psalms 5:5; Psalms 5:9); Psalms 12:5 should be compared with Psalms 9:18 and Psalms 10:5; -I will arise" (Psalms 12:5) is the answer to the prayer of Psalms 3:7; Psalms 7:6; Psalms 9:19; Psalms 10:12.

But the language is general, and the Psalm might belong to almost any age. Similar complaints are found in Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah. In every period of the Church's history there have been godly men who, separated from friends and persecuted by enemies, have been tempted to say with Elijah, "I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it away."

In this psalm prophecy and psalmody meet. The Psalmist speaks to God, and God answers through the Psalmist (Psalms 12:5). It is no doubt possible that he is quoting some prophetic utterance (cp. Psalms 89:19 ff.), but there is no need of the supposition. He can himself hear God speak, and deliver His word as an authoritative message. Cp. Psalms 2:6-7 ff., Psalms 50:1 ff., Psalms 60:6 ff., Psalms 81:6 ff., Psalms 82:2 ff., Psalms 91:14 ff.

The Psalm falls into two equal divisions, each consisting of two equal stanzas.

i. Prayer for help amid prevailing faithlessness (Psalms 12:1-2). O that insolent braggarts might be exterminated! (Psalms 12:3-4).

ii. Jehovah's promise of help; its purity and preciousness (Psalms 12:5-6). The Psalmist's confidence in the divine guardianship in the midst of unrestrained wickedness (Psalms 12:7-8).

On the title, For the Chief Musician, set to the Sheminith (R.V.), see Introd. pp. xxi, xxv.