Psalms 12

Psalms 12THEME: The godly in the midst of the godlessness of the Great TribulationProphetically, this psalm is like the preceding ones. It refers ultimately in its final fulfillment to the days of the Tribulation which will come upon Israel’s godly remnantalso upon godly Gentilesin that day. In the opening verses we find a description of the apostasy in those days. You see, there is to be an apostasy in Israel as well as in the church.

Psalms 12:1

It is easy to develop an Elijah complex today and say, “I am the only one left. I am the only one standing for God today.” Many people develop that complex. It is not accurate, but it can happen when you see godlessness on every hand.

Psalms 12:2

This is a day when Christians need to speak the truth. That is, we should not say one thing to a man’s face and another thing when his back is turned. That is double-talk. It is being two-faced.

Psalms 12:3

The psalmist goes after the proud in this psalm. They say, “We are going to say what we please.” We are seeing that apostasy in the church is noted by pride like this. Jude predicted the coming apostasy, “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage” (Jud_1:16). In other words, those in apostasy are a bunch of liars. Now we see those who are God’s people.

Psalms 12:5

Or, better, the Lord says, “I will set him in safety at whom they puff.” Today the enemy huffs and puffs like the wolf did in the story of the three little pigs. Two little pigs lost their homes because the big bad wolf blew them down. But the last little pig had a house that stood up under the huffing and puffing. The story of the three little pigs illustrates what David is saying here. God says, “I will set him in safety at whom they puff. I will hide him in the clefts of the rocks. I will put him in a place of safety.”

Psalms 12:6

Now the wicked boast and use flattery. You cannot believe what they say. But the words of the Lord are pure. That is one reason why we need to spend more time in the Word of God. It is the fortress into which God wants to put us.

Psalms 12:7

We are living in a day like this, and it will be especially true during the time of the Great Tribulation. Listen to the prophet Isaiah when he says, “Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified [they said that in mockery]: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed” (Isa_66:5). This is a wonderful picture given to us which describes the temple worship in Jerusalem at, I think, the end of the age. The Lord Jesus said in His day, when the enemy came to arrest Him, “…this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luk_22:53). We go through times when the enemy has the upper hand, but God won’t let something happen to His own unless it will accomplish some worthwhile purpose in their hearts and lives.