Summary
If you live in New Zealand or in other places in “The West”, chances are you have watched what seems like large parts of both the Church and the wider culture walk away from the living and true God. While we may be tempted to think this is unique to our time and place, the truth is that in many times and places people have walked away from God, leaving only a small faithful remnant.
Psalm 12 illustrates the cry and response of the faithful when surrounded by the faithless. Written by King David, it describes a time when it seemed to him that he was surrounded by the faithless, walking away from God. The psalm reminds us that God will protect and deliver his people, despite the trouble of the world around us.
Our passage explained
v1-4
The psalm begins with King David lamenting the world around him: “Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.” Where, David asks, are the faithful? They have disappeared from the world, and like the days of Noah it seems only one or a few are left.
Verses two to four expand on this lament, describing the words of the faithless. “Everyone utters lies” including outright falsehoods but also insincere flattery and deceitful speech which cheapens and undermines communication (v.2).
To this David prays that God would “cut off” those who use flattery and boasting to further their own gain (v.3), excluding them from God’s covenant community. Flattery, boasting, and deceitful words are like a weapon against God’s people, because the faithless believe “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?” (v.4).
v5-8
The psalm next records God’s response in verse five. “‘Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,’ says the LORD; ‘I will place him in the safety for which he longs.’” God promises to act, righting the injustice visited on the faithful (depicted as poor and needy) and placing them in safety.
David responds to God’s commitment to act on behalf of the faithful with a meditation on the goodness of God’s words. Unlike the deceitful words of the faithless, “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times” (v.6). God’s words are as pure and valuable as refined silver, a precious and beautiful metal. God’s promises can be relied on.
Because God’s words and promises can be relied on, the faithful can live with confidence. “You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever” (v.7). God will not break his word, he will not act outside his covenant love for his people. God will keep his promises and guard his faithful people from the faithless (“this generation”) not only now, but forever.
The faithful can live in this confidence despite the nature of the faithless, summarised again in verse 8. “On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.” While the wicked prowl looking to devour God’s people, and exalting awful thoughts and deeds, God exalts his covenant people, preserving them in the middle of the wicked who surround them.
Our passage applied
As we reflect on this psalm, the first thing that should come to mind is that we do not live in a particularly unique time in history. In many times in history, God’s faithful people have been surrounded and harassed by the unfaithful around, scoffing and fulfilling their sinful desires (2 Peter 3:1-7). While it seems uncomfortable for us that we live in a culture of unfaithfulness, particularly those of us that remember (at least outwardly) days when God’s name was honoured, we are not alone in living in such days.
Living in these days of unfaithfulness, we can take comfort in God’s promise in verse five. This promise summarises all the promises of God in Scripture, to save his people and preserve them through troubles and strife.
God’s promises are just as precious today as they were in King David’s day, when he described them as like pure silver. They are all “yes” in Jesus, and so we say through Jesus amen to God for his glory (2 Cor 1:20). We can rely on God’s promises.
As we put our trust in God to fulfil his promises, we await the final righting of the wrong of rebellion against God. One day the Lord Jesus will return, and put away all evil and scoffing that righteousness may dwell fully (2 Peter 3:8-13).
While we live with unfaithful surrounding us now, this is not how things will remain. We have God’s promises to trust in, and the hope of Jesus’ final total victory over sin and unbelief to look forward to. God will guard us, his people, not only from this generation but forever.
God has not left his faithful remnant alone, but promises to arise to protect and preserve them, in whatever place and age they are found.
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