It is easy to think that the problems we face as a civilization are new problems that have never been faced before. A lack of historical perspective robs us of the insights gained from others who have walked the same lonely paths we trod, in similarly evil times and situations. On the contrary, an understanding of historical perspective allows us to gain wisdom and encouragement from those who lived in times similar to ours, and whose perspective can help us to avoid feeling too anxious or depressed about the evil times we have been appointed for our own lives. There is enough in life to be concerned about without having to add unnecessary worry that comes from not knowing what times godly men and women have endured in the past.

Pslam 12 is one of a series of psalms that deals with the problem of oppression and God’s response to it [1]. The existence of oppression often prompts a struggle over faith, because the existence of evildoers in high places appears to mock the belief by Christians (and ethical monotheists in general) that God is in control. This problem of theodicy, the existence of evil, is a problem that some of us have to deal with rather forcefully and urgently for our own reasons. It is, of course, always helpful and beneficial when we can find encouragement from what others have endured and overcome, and grow in faith ourselves.

Psalm 12 is stated to be a Psalm of David, dedicated to the chief musician, and designed for an eight-stringed harp (sheminith in Hebrew). Perhaps coincidentally, it is eight verses long, and is organized in a bifid design, the first half dealing with flattering lips and the second half with the words of God, showing a straightforward “problem-solution” sort of structure, with additional words of wisdom about the problem at the end. Knowing the structure of a psalm like Psalm 12 can help aid in understanding it in its larger context, seeing as the psalms were both private prayers as well as public songs by levitical musicians as well as believers in the tabernacle and temple worship service.

Psalm 12:1-4 reads: “Help, Eternal, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things, who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”” This is a rather ferocious condemnation of conduct that is all too familiar in our time. Many people believe themselves not accountable to anyone for their dishonest and corrupt words (I know that I have been falsely accused of being this way personally). Many people speak with flattering words but have hatred and wickedness in their heart for others. And that is a serious problem.

Of course, it is a problem in our own time, as any survey of any kind of political speech will discover. Everywhere in our world, in all places and all institutions, there is a wide gulf between the love that is professed and the respect and love that are practiced. To the extent that we all fall short of our ideals, none of us are exempt from this (certainly not I), but we ought to be careful to note that David does not condemn honest people struggling against sin, but rather those who have the pretense of righteousness but not the reality. We ought to be careful neither to behave hypocritically, nor to condemn ourselves for struggling honestly (with the help of God) against our sinful nature.

Psalm 12:5-8 reveals the sort of hypocritical behavior practiced by all too many in these evil times (and throughout the wicked course of human history): “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.” The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. You shall keep them, O Lord, you shall preserve them from this generation forever. The wicked prowl on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.”

What we see here is that a lot of the hypocrisy of the wealthy and powerful, and those who aspire to be, is their profession of love for humanity but their exploitation of the very people they claim to help and serve and love. Whether the oppression and exploitation comes from libertarians interested in businesses unfettered by regulations that require decent wages and working conditions, or whether it comes from oppressive statist governments engaging in selective austerity and crony capitalism, oppression and wickedness of the poor and needy is a decidedly nonpartisan matter, to be condemned by all godly people. Examples of this corrupt behavior from all political persuasions can be found throughout the melancholy course of mankind’s troubled and dark history.

In stark contrast to the sort of wickedness we find in our present world, God promises safety and deliverance to those who are destitute. Of course, that safety and deliverance are not on our schedule (rather they are on God’s), they are no less treasured or certain for that. The godly are refined through trials, so that we can be placed in God’s kingdom and be no more moved or troubled for all time. The wicked, on the other hand, will be judged for eternity also, and there are likely to be many who thought themselves to be righteous who will have some very unpleasant surprises. Hopefully not very many people, though. May God grant repentance to our societies, so that perhaps His judgment may be averted. In the meantime, let us all look forward to the safety and security that the Eternal will provide for His people in delivering us from and through the wicked times we must face.

The Psalm closes with an observation that I would like to close in discussing. A great deal of the wickedness we face in our times is due to emulation. There are some people who are hardened in evil and immensely corrupt. There are a great many other people, though, whose corruption springs from their desire for success and power and privilege, and in their adoption of certain manners of practice and behavior in order to attain those goals that end up abusing and oppressing others without there being any intentional malice in their hearts. When vileness is praised–when evil is called good (whether that evil is greed, or murder, or immorality, or any other form of evil) there will be fewer good people, and more people copying modes of wickedness in a society, in the mistaken belief that they are good. A society will get the sort of leaders and people it deserves–a civilization cannot mock and insult virtue and expect to find much virtue and goodness and love in its hour of need. Let us therefore cease exalting vileness, and begin the hard work of practicing and promoting virtue in ourselves and others, while there is time for us to repent.

[1] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/that-the-man-of-the-earth-may-oppress-no-more-a-commentary-on-psalm-10/