The Treasury of David

Singing Psalms

Psalm 12

Title. This Psalm is headed “To the Chief Musician upon Sheminith, a Psalm of David, “which title is identical with that of the sixth Psalm, except that Neginoth is here omitted. We have nothing new to add, and therefore refer the reader to our remarks on the dedication of Psalms 6:1-10. As Sheminith signifies the eighth, the Arabic version says it is concerning the end of the world, which shall be the eighth day, and refers it to the coming of the Messiah: without accepting so fanciful an interpretation, we may read this song of complaining faith in the light of His coming who shall break in pieces the oppressor. The subject will be the better before the mind’s eye if we entitle this Psalm: “Good Thoughts In Bad Times.” It is supposed to have been written while Saul was persecuting David, and those who favoured his cause.

Division. In Psalms 12:1-2 David spreads his complaint before the Lord concerning the treachery of his age; Psalms 12:3-4 denounce judgments upon proud traitors; in Psalms 12:5, Jehovah himself thunders out his wrath against oppressors; hearing this, the Chief Musician sings sweetly of the faithfulness of God and his care of his people, in Psalms 12:6-7; but closes on the old key of lament in verse 8, as he observes the abounding wickedness of his times. Those holy souls who dwell in Mesech, and sojourn in the tents of Kedar, may read and sing these sacred stanzas with hearts in full accord with their mingled melody of lowly mourning and lofty confidence.
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Psalm 12:8

Exposition

Here we return to the fount of bitterness, which first made the psalmist run to the wells of salvation, namely, the prevalence of wickedness. When those in power are vile, their underlings will be no better. As a warm sun brings out noxious flies, so does a sinner in honour foster vice everywhere. Our turf would not so swarm with abominables if those who are styled honourables did not give their countenance to the craft. Would to God that the glory and triumph of our Lord Jesus would encourage us to walk and work on every side; as like acts upon like, since an exalted sinner encourages sinners, our exalted Redeemer must surely excite, cheer, and stimulate his saints. Nerved by a sight of his reigning power we shall meet the evils of the times in the spirit of holy resolution, and shall the more hopefully pray, “Help, Lord.”

Explanatory Notes and Quaint Sayings

When the vilest men are exalted: Hebrew, vilities, οὐτίδανοι the abstract for the concrete, quisquilioe, οὐτίδανοι. Oft, empty vessels swim aloft, rotten posts are gilt with adulterate gold, the worst weeds spring up bravest. Chaff will get to the top of the fan, when good corn, as it lieth at the bottom of the heap, so it falls low at the feet of the farmer. The reason why wicked men walk on every side, are so brisk, so busy (and who but they?) is given to be this, because losels and rioters were exalted. See Proverbs 28:12, 18, 29:2. As rheums and catarrhs fall from the head to the lungs, and cause a consumption of the whole body, so it is in the body politic. As a fish putrefies first in the head and then in all the parts, so here. Some render the text thus, “When they (that is, the wicked) are exalted, it is a “shame for the sons of men, “that other men who better deserve preferment, are not only slighted, but vilely handled by such worthless ambitionists, who yet the higher they climb, as apes, the more they discover their deformities.” John Trapp.

Good thus translates this verse:—

Should the wicked advance on every side; Should the dregs of the earth be uppermost? The original is given literally. ‏זֻלּוּת‎ means “fœces, fœculences, dregs.” ‏כְּרֻם‎ is here an adverb, and imports uppermost, rather than exalted. J. Mason Good, in loc.

Hints to the Village Preacher

Sin in high places specially infectious. Call to the rich and prominent to remember their responsibility. Thankfulness for honourable rulers. Discrimination to be used in choice of our representatives, or civic magistrates.
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Works Upon The Twelfth Psalm

In “A Godly Meditation upon 20 select Psalms…By Sir Anthony Cope, Knight, 1547, “a thin black letter 4to., is an Exposition, or rather Meditation, on this Psalm. Reprinted 1848.
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