Support in Perilous Times

(1) Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
(2) They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
(3) The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
(4) Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
(5) For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
(6) The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
(7) Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
(8) The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
--Psalm 12 KJV Bible

This is a lament psalm of David. In the psalm David contrasts the trouble caused by the words of the wicked versus the trust instilled by the true words of the Lord God.

In verse 1 David is crying to God for help because of the perilous times. David is not referring to perils such as poverty, unemployment or war, for these abound even in the best times. David is referring to an abundance of sin and wickedness. The aggressiveness of wickedness makes it seems to David that the righteous have disappeared from the earth.

In verses 2 through 4 and in verse 8 David describes how the wicked manipulate rather than communicate. Their words are described as vane (worthless), flattering (self-important), double talk (deceptive), proud (lacking humility or respect), and strutting (arrogant).

In verses 5 through 7 David reminds the listener that the Lord God has promised to keep safe the afflicted and needy. In verse 6 David states that God's words are as pure as silver which has been refined by fire seven times. In Scripture, the number seven is used to represent perfection; divinity; God. Things are often grouped by sevens, whether they are objects or actions, to emphasize the divine. By his statement in verse 6, David means that God's words are divinely pure, trustworthy and reliable. In verse 7 David assures the righteous that though God may not remove them from the peril, He will support and preserve them, both now and always.

Lord God, I thank You that even in the most perilous times, You are with me. Your Word is trustworthy and reliable. Help me to stand strong against the words of the wicked.

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