Psalm 12

In our study of Psalm 12, we look at the present and future struggles between those that hold onto the truth and those that do not.

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For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

This psalm was probably sang with the playing of an eight stringed lyre in the background.

Psalm 12:1

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

David begins with a cry out to God for freedom and you can almost feel the pain and despair but why is he crying out? The word that is translated as "faithful" here is actually the Hebrew word "chaciyd" which actually means kind. So, what does it mean to be kind? In Galatians 5, we see that kindness is one of the fruits that comes from the presence of the Spirit of God in our lives and it refers to caring for others.

David goes on to say that all of the loyal people are gone. We must remember that King David knew a little bit about loyalty and the lack of loyalty as his son, Absalom, had tried to overthrow him. The Hebrew word that is translated here as "loyal" is "aman" and it actually means certain or firm in their trust. God had commanded the people to honor their father and mother and David's son had abandoned the word of God in order to elevate himself. King David was feeling alone and abandoned as many of those that he had trusted had joined with Absalom in rebellion.

This psalm also looks ahead to the time of the Great Tribulation when most of those who have held firm to Jesus Christ have been removed from the earth. During that time, caring for others will be practically unheard of and that is a sign of the end of times as described by Jesus. (See Matthew 24:12)

Psalm 12:2

Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.

King David continues to describe what he saw as he looked around him and it was a world in which there were very few that could be trusted.

It seems like this is even more true today than it has ever been before as politicians especially but also people in general will say whatever they feel is necessary to get what they want. We must remember that Jesus Christ is the truth and that Satan is the father of lies and liars. Once nations and people abandon truth, the only other option is to follow the ways of the devil. That leads to a very dark world as described in the book of Revelation.