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Scott's Reference Library
Psalm 12:1 through Psalm 12:8 (NIV)
1 Help, LORD, for the godly are no more;
the faithful have vanished from among men.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbor;
their flattering lips speak with deception.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue
4 that says, “We will triumph with our tongues;
we own our lips—who is our master?”
5 “Because of the oppression of the weak
and the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise,” says the LORD.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace of clay,
purified seven times.
7 O LORD, you will keep us safe
and protect us from such people forever.
8 The wicked freely strut about
when what is vile is honored among men.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSE 1
This psalm furnishes good thoughts for bad times; a man may comfort himself with
such meditations and prayers. Let us see what makes the times bad, and when they
may be said to be so. Ask the children of this world, What makes the times bad?
they will tell you, Scarcity of money, decay of trade, and the desolations of
war, make the times bad: but the Scripture lays the badness of the times on
causes of another nature, 2 Timothy 3:1, etc.: perilous times shall come, for
sin shall abound; and of this David complains. When piety decays times really
are bad. He who made man’s mouth will call him to an account for his proud,
profane, dissembling, or even useless words. When the poor and needy are
oppressed, then the times are very bad. God himself takes notice of the
oppression of the poor, and the sighing of the needy. When wickedness abounds,
and is countenanced by those in authority, then the times are very bad. See with
what good things we are here furnished for such bad times; and we cannot tell
what times we may be reserved for. 1. We have a God to go to, from whom we may
ask and expect the redress of all our grievances. 2. God will certainly punish
and restrain false and proud men. 3. God will work deliverance for his oppressed
people. His help is given in the fittest time. Though men are false, God is
faithful; though they are not to be trusted, God is. The preciousness of God’s
word is compared to silver refined to the highest degree. How many proofs have
been given of its power and truth! God will secure his chosen remnant, however
bad the times are. As long as the world stands, there will be a generation of
proud and wicked men. But all God’s people are put into the hands of Christ our
Saviour; there they are in safety, for none can pluck them thence; being built
on Him, the Rock, they are safe, notwithstanding temptation or persecution come
with ever so much force upon them.