Chronicles of a Journeyman

Psalm 12

1-4: Lying and Boastful Lips Multiplied

5-8: God Arises with Deliverance and Truth

The first part of this Davidic psalm is a lament about the proliferation of lies and flattery among people, resulting in mass unfaithfulness and oppression. When people rebel against God and reject authority, wickedness increases greatly.

However, in the second part of the psalm, we hear a divine response, with the LORD arising for the deliverance of the poor and oppressed. This response, David affirms, is pure and proven – the LORD will surely protect the poor.

The psalm ends on an instructive note – the values a people exalt directly impacts the character traits multiplied among them. Though this is common sense, it bears repeating so we can be mindful of what traits to honour and encourage in others. What we exalt, multiplies!