Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 12
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 12
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 12
"Help, Jehovah; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak. Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things; Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: who is lord over us? Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will set him in the safety he panteth for. The words of Jehovah are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, Purified seven times. Thou wilt keep them, O Jehovah, Thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever. The wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men. " — Psalms 12:1-8 (ASV)
This psalm furnishes good thoughts for bad times; one may comfort oneself 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 that scarcity of money, decay of trade, and the desolations of war make the times bad. But the Scripture attributes the badness of the times to causes of another nature (2 Timothy 3:1 and following): perilous times shall come, for sin shall abound, and of this David complains.
When piety decays, times really are bad. He who made each person's mouth will call them to account for their 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 condoned by those in authority, then the times are very bad. See with what good things we are here equipped for such bad times; and we do not know for what times we may be reserved.
- We have a God to go to, from whom we may ask and expect the redress of all our grievances.
- God will certainly punish and restrain false and proud people.
- God will work deliverance for his oppressed people.
His help is given in the most appropriate time. Though people 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 people.
But all God's people are put into the hands of Christ our Saviour; there they are in safety, for no one can pluck them from there. Being built on Him, the Rock, they are safe, despite temptation or persecution coming against them with great force.
Jump to: