1.0 The Statement

Psalm 12 is a Psalm of David, is not questioned by most Expositors.  David wrote a total of Seventy-four Psalms of the 150 Psalms. Also, of the 16 Messianic Psalms, 10 Messianic Psalms were written by David.

The Title of Psalm 12 indicates that it was incorporated into Israel’s Public Worship at an Early Date. The Choirmaster or Chief Musician occurs first and then the melody, “Shem’inith” (Heb: ’al-hasheminit) means “the eighth,” which may refer to the number of the familiar melody, a lower octave for men’s voices or eight strings of the musical instrument played by the Levites (1Chronicles 15:21) or eight noted melodies to which the Psalm was sung.  F.W.Grant’s comment is very beautiful. “The flute is silent, and the music of the stringed instruments, better fitted to express the deeper emotions of the heart, follows them: and indeed, in the bass notes upon the octave.” These Musical Directions would be well understood by the Chief Musician and the Singers of that day, but today the full meaning of some of these words is not clear even to the Scholars of the Hebrew Language. “Shem’inith” means “the eighth” or “an octave” or eight strings of the musical instrument or eight noted melodies to which Psalm 12 was sung. 

David had several difficult periods of his life to which the sentiments of Psalm 12 would have been applicable:

• Some Expositors think that Psalm 12 describes David’s circumstances when, in his younger age, he resided in the Court of King Saul whose constant intent was to kill him. King Saul made 15 attempts on David’s life (1Samuel chapters 17 to 26).
• Some Expositors think that Psalm 12 may have been composed during that time when David had to flee from King Saul, a Fugitive in the caves and woods of desert and wilderness (1Samuel chapters 24 & 26).
• Some Expositors think that Psalm 12 belongs to those sad days when Absalom had usurped David’s Throne and David was exiled from his Throne and family (2Samuel chapters 15 to 18).

In any of these times there are those who are treacherous, chief of whom, of course, is his own son Absalom, and his former friend and Counsellor Ahithophel. Psalm 12 is divided into Four Parts of two Verses each:

• Psalm 12:1-2, David Prays to the LORD concerning those who are “bad-mouthing” him (David) with their tongues.
• Psalm 12:3-4, David expresses Confidence that the LORD will deal with these Enemies.
• Psalm 12:5-6, David has the LORD’s Word for it and rejoices in that Word.
• Psalm 12:7-8, David, Rests in the Divine (God’s) Assurance, though sensible that the trouble is still present.

These Four Parts may also be divided into two, Psalm 12:1-4 being the Prayer; and Psalm 12:5-8 being the Prophecy.

1.1 The Cry for Help

Psalm 12:1(KJV) “Help, LORD; for the Godly man ceases; for the Faithful failed from among the Children of men.” The cry of the distressing Person is emphasised with the Call for Help – “Help, LORD!” The Cry, “Help LORD” is described by:

• Plumer: “The word help does not call merely for some aid, but for full and effectual deliverance.”  Plumer further said, “By far the most common rendering of the first verb in this verse is save; after that deliver, preserve, avenge, rescue, help.”
• Spurgeon: “A short, but sweet, but suggestive, seasonable, and serviceable Prayer; a kind of Angel’s sword, to be turned every way and to be used on all occasions.”

David’s cry “Help LORD” is the universal cry and the timeless plea for God’s Mercy against treachery on every side. David is under great pressure. He is burdened with the decline of Godly and Faithful men – “The Godly man ceases……the Faithful failed” (Psalm 12:1a). “Help LORD” has been the lament of Saints throughout the Ages:

• Apostle Paul states: “This you know that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me” (2Timothy 1:15, KJV).
• Elijah felt it keenly too, and cried: “I, even I only, am left” (1Kings 19:14, KJV).

However, there can never be, in any dispensation, a complete and utter failure of testimony, for God never leaves Himself without Faithful Witnesses.

Story: On the 16^th day of August 1593, “the Tobie, of London, a ship of 250 tonnes, manned with fifty men, set sail from Blackwall.” The ship was cast ashore on the Barbary coast and broke up so fast that there was no time to make a raft. Climbing up into the shrouds the Crew hung there for a time. “But seeing nothing but present death approach, we commended ourselves unto the LORD, and began with doleful tune and heavy hearts to sing 12 Psalm: ‘Help, LORD, for Good and Godly Men’ – Howbeit, before we had finished four Verses, the Waves of the Sea had stopped the breathes of most of our men……And only Twelve, by God’s Providence, partly by swimming and other meanes of chests, got on shore, which was about a quarter of a mile from the wreck of the Ship” (W. Graham Scroggie, “A Guide To The Psalms,” Kregel Publications, pgs.92-93).

1.2 The Words of the Wicked

Psalm 12:2,3b (KJV) “They speak vanity everyone with his neighbour; with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak……And the tongue that speaks proud things.” The Righteous Person is not surrounded by upright and trustworthy People, but by People who use words not to advance truth but to advance their own evil ends. The Wicked Person does three things:

1.2.1 Speaks Vanity

Psalm 12:2a (KJV) “They speak vanity {pride} everyone with his neighbour.” – The word “vanity” is the most embracing expression for the misuse of words. Vanity = Falsehood or distortion of truth, empty and useless words.

The Hebrew word, while it includes lie, means “emptiness,” thus also including the additional ideas of insincerity and irresponsibility (Derek Kidner: “An Introduction and Commentary on Books I & II of the Psalm,” London: Inter-Vasity, 1973, pg.75). It is insincerity with which the Wicked converses with each other. Thus, compliments and fawning congratulations are hateful to honest men.  

1.2.2 Flatters

Psalm 12:2b (KJV) “With flattering lips.” – Flattery goes a step beyond mere emptiness (“vanity”) because it contains the additional elements of a corrupt or an evil motive.The Hebrew word “flattery” means “smooth,” and there is much smooth talk about us:

• Flattery is smooth talk, which is glib, facile, false pleasing, and deadly.
• Flattery is not communication, it is manipulation.
• Flattery is treachery in disguise.

Flattery plays on the ego and especially influences the Person who wants to appear important (Jude 11). It is universal among the Wicked, this hypocrisy of flattering with the lips:

• There have been Periods of History when flattering speech has been developed to a high degree, as in Diplomatic or Courtly Language.
• King Solomon must have endured a great deal of it at his Court, because the Book of Proverbs, which he wrote, warns often against flattery (Proverbs 26:28; Proverbs 28:23; Proverbs 29:5; etc).
• Daniel says that flattery will be a tool of that Wicked World Ruler (Antichrist) who will arise at the Last Day (Daniel 11:32).
• Jude links flattery to the ways of the ungodly who will be condemned in God’s Final Judgement (Jude 16).

The Person who flatters with his lips, beguiling, and cozening (flatter to cheat) his Victims to get them completely into his Power with adverse result:

• Proverbs 26:28b (NIV) “A flattering mouth works ruin.”
• Proverbs 28:23 (NIV) “He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favour than he who has a flattering tongue.”

Flattery plays on the ego and especially influences the Person who wants to appear important (Jude 11).

1.2.3 Deceive (“Double-Heart”)

Psalm 12:2c (KJV) “And with a double heart do they speak.”  – The Hebrew text is idiomatic at this point, for it says literally, “they speak with a heart and a heart” (“double heart”):

• It is Hebrew way of describing double-talk or, as we would say, “talking out of both sides of our mouths.”
• It is using a word that means one thing to advance something that is its exact opposite.

The Wicked with one heart, fauns, and flatters, saying things which might please, with another heart the Wicked harbours mischievous thoughts and intents. It is duplicity, which is the divided heart (literally, “a heart and a heart”).

The Wicked Person has “two hearts,” one speaks smooth words and the other to imagine mischief! The Chinese considers the Person with “two hearts” to be a very base Individual because he believes one thing with his heart but says another with his mouth.  

In the secular, artificial evasive language is called “double-speak” (William Lutz (1989) and “The New Double-Speak” (1996), both published by Harper Collins):

• What was once called “Home Economics” is now “The College of Applied Life Science.”
• In Tucson, Arizona, potholes are no more because they are now known as “pavement deficiencies.”
• In Politics, new taxes are “revenue enhancements.”
• In military jargon, “retreat” is “back-loading of augmentation personnel.
• If, while Soldiers are “back-loading,” and got shot, the bullet hole is “a ballistically induced aperture in the subcutaneous environment.”

“Double-speak” is catching on and is popular in almost every area of human life is evidence that language and communication are in serious trouble. Our ability to speak and write words is God’s Precious Gift, and Psalm 12 deals with the right and wrong use of “that Gift.”