Psalm Category: Psalm of Lament

Central Thought: Psalm 12 reminds us not to trust in the lies of this world, but instead to trust in God’s Word. It also admonishes us to be certain that we do not engage in the perversion of language.

Key Word: Tahor (v. 6). This word is translated here by the NIV as “flawless.” Tahor refers to ritual purity (the ceremonial distinction between clean and unclean). The root form of this adjective is used frequently in the Pentateuch to describe items that are pure, clean, and holy. The psalmist applies this adjective to God’s Word. This should provide great comfort to the believer. God’s Word is without blemish. It is pure, clean, and holy.

Psalm 12 describes a battle for truth. In this battle, the words of men are pitted against the Word of God.

Psalm 12

The Abuse of Words (vv. 1-5a). The psalm begins with the lament-filled cry of the psalmist. He is vexed by the decadence around him. He feels alone, suffering from an Elijah complex (see 1 Kings 19:10). However, the psalmist’s despair is not caused by idolatry, as Elijah’s despair was, but rather by the abuse of language.

It is important to recognize that language is a gift of God. Our ability to communicate is a reflection of our being in the image of God. God used His Word to create and redeem, and He calls us to use language in a similar manner to fulfill the cultural mandate. However, the psalmist looks around and sees perverse uses of language that he enumerates in verses 2-5.

First, verse 2 tells us that lying is a perversion of language. The Hebrew word for “lies” implies speaking not just falsehood, but also empty words. Second, verse 2 condemns the perversion of flattery. The Hebrew word for flattery could be translated as “smoothness.” God hates the smooth talk of flattery because it is used to misguide and manipulate (Prov. 26:28; 29:5; Jude 1:16).

Third, verse 2 denounces deceptive speech. The Hebrew idiom employed here indicates that the speaker knows the truth but hides this truth in his heart, preferring to speak a lie. Our culture has mastered the art of suppressing God’s truth and speaking lies instead. Think of the rampant use of euphemisms. Our culture refers to an unborn baby as a fetus and to sin as sickness. The fourth perversion of language is boasting (v. 3). Particularly, the psalm addresses the perversion of using a boastful tongue against God. Note the words of the wicked: “We will triumph with our tongues”; and “We own our lips—who is our master?” God gave us language to praise and serve Him, yet the wicked use it to curse Him.

Finally, the fifth perversion is revealed in the first part of verse 5. Here the psalmist refers to God hearing the cries of the weak and needy. Some pervert language to use it as a tool of oppression. Think of how totalitarian regimes have sought to use language to oppress their people. George Orwell’s “Newspeak” comes to mind.

The Integrity of the Word (vv. 5b-6). The psalm takes a radical turn in the second half of verse 5. God is moved by the cries of His people and arises as our divine Warrior to protect us. The protection He provides for His people is His Word of truth. Verse 6 informs us that, in contrast to the words of the wicked, God’s Word is flawless, refined, and purified. This triad of adjectives is intended to emphasize the trustworthiness of God’s Word. Think of the unending assaults on the veracity of God’s Word over the past two centuries. Perhaps no one’s words have been challenged more than the words of our Lord. Many have sought to destroy the Bible’s integrity, but it continues to stand as a beacon of truth in a morass of lies.

Security in the Word (vv. 7-8). Verse 7 tells us that God’s Word will keep us safe and protect us. People of God, we must be people of the Book. We cannot believe the lies of our culture.

In fact, our duty as Christians is to engage in counter-speech. We are to speak God’s Word into our culture in an effort to confront it with the truth. This is no easy task, because verse 8 informs us that the wicked will continue to strut about speaking lies. However, remember that God’s Word will not fail to achieve its purposes. Our duty is to call this world to hear Jesus because only His truth can set them free.

—Anthony T. Selvaggio