A Brief Explication of the First Fifty Psalms, Psalm 12
PSAL. XII. To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.
The Prophet having observed, as is set down, ver. 8 how wickednesse lifteth up the head in all the Land, when the places of power and trust doe come in the hands of naughty and vile men, doth give direction by his own example unto the godly; first, to have their recourse to God by prayer, while they are born down by the wicked in such an ill time, ver. 1, 2. and next how to comfort themselves by the word of God, pronouncing the sentence of justice upon all loose-tongued men, ver. 3, 4. And promising delivery to the oppressed godly, and preservation of his Church in all generations, ver. 5, 6, 7. Howsoever he suffer wicked men to bear rule sometimes, and wickednesse to abound by that means, ver. 8.
Ver. 1. HElp Lord, for the godly man ceaseth: for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak.
David finding no friend at Court, nor any place or power, who either would speak a word in his favours, or give him any friendly counsel, turneth himself to God. Whence learne, 1. The face of the visible Church may sometime be so far defaced, that there cannot be a man found to show himself openly, for a good cause, as here is noted. The godly man ceaseth, the faithfull fail from among the children of men. 2. In such a case God can and wil supply the in-lack of friends and counsellers to his own, when they seek to him, Help Lord: the Lord wil help. 3. At such a time, a godly person may not think upon seditious practices against those that are in lawful authority, but take himself to prayer; for David who had a fairer pretence for such a practice then any private man or men can have, because he was designed successour to the kingdom, he goeth to God in this case, and cryeth, Help Lord.
He proveth the in-lack of godlinesse and faithfulness, because there was no upright, nor honest dealing among the people, but falshood and flatterie. Whence learn, 4. Where true godlinesse is out of request, the common bonds of neighbourhood, (including bonds of blood, alliance, and acquaintance) wil fail also, and every one wil goe about to deceive his neighbour; so that a man cannot trust what another saith: for They speak vanity every one with his neighbour. 5. When ungodly men intend most to deceive, then they are sure to speak fairest, giving pleasant words, with insinuation of respects in abundant complements. They speak vanity to their neighbour with flattering lips. 6. Vain talk, cousening speeches, flattering words, are unbeseeming honest men, and do argue in so far as men affect them, ungodlinesse, unfaithfulnesse, and deceitfulnesse in a man; for when with flattering lips they speak, with a double heart they speak.
Ver. 3 The Lord shal cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.
4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail, our lips are our own: who is Lord over us?
He setteth down in the next place the comforts of the godly, which are three. The first is from Gods justice in punishing calumniators of the godly, and proud boasters. Whence learne, 5. Although pick-thankes, and flatterers of great men, in prejudice of the godly, do hope to stand by their flatterie, yet the Lord shall cut off all flattering lips. 2. Albeit men in power and place do threaten to bring about great things against Gods people, yet they shall not bee able to doe what they have said, for God shall cut off also the tongue that speaketh proud things. 3. Wicked men are confident, and do assure themselves to double out their course by their falshood, flattery, and calumnies against the godly; They have said, With our tongue wil we prevail. 4. Wicked men make no conscience to use well the gifts which they have gotten of God; such as are wit, or language, or any other thing; for they say, Our lips are our owne. 5. Wicked men stand not in awe of God; they fear not punishment from him, for in effect they say; Who is Lord over us? But we must learn from their faults three contrary lessons; to wit, 1. That nothing which we have is our own. But 2. Whatsoever is given to us of God is for service to be done to him. 3. That whatsoever we do, or say, we have a Lord over us, to whom we must be answerable, when he calleth us to accounts.
Ver. 5. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise (saith the Lord) I wil set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
6. The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tryed in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7. Thou shalt keep them (O Lord) thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
The second comfort of the godly in an ill time, is from the promise of God, to deliver the godly out of the hand of the wicked. Whence learn, 1. When the Lord hath exercised the Godly for a while, with the oppression of the wicked, he will not fail to make manifest, that he hath heard their sad supplications, and seen their oppression; for the oppression of the poor, for the fighting of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord. 2. The proud persecuter doth think little of the Godly, or any power that can defend him, but doth mock the hope he hath to be helped; yet God will set the godly in safety from him that puffeth at him.
This promise the Prophet commendeth to the Church, as a precious truth, which will be found forth-coming to the full, in experience. Whence learn, 3. To the end that the word of promise may be comfortable to us, till new experience comes, we must consider whose word it is, and that there is no vanity in promises, but all contained in them, shall be found very solid, like the refined silver, or gold, which is purged from all drosse, and the oftner it is put in the fire, it is the more fair, and of greater value: for the words are the Lords words, and pure words, tryed, true his experience, as silver tryed in a furnace of earth seven times, and clear from all drosse.
The third comfort of the godly is from assurance given of the perpetuation of the Church, and custody of it by God, in all ages. Whence learn. 4. Let men persecute the godly, as much as God pleaseth to suffer them, yet shall God preserve a Church of godly persons at all times to the end of the world: For God shall preserve the godly from this generation for ever. 5. Albeit the discomforted godly, under persecuters, are not alwayes able to draw presently comfort from this promise, yet it is a truth which God will own, which God will keep in his hand to us, when we come to him, and which every beleever must own, though no man should take it off his hand. Therefore doth David turne himself to God, in delivering this Charter of the Churches safety▪ Thou, saith he, shalt keep them.
Ver. 8. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
In the close of the Psalme, upon his own experience; he draweth up a generall observation of what may be expected, when the most wicked are most advanced. Whence learn, 1. God sometimes so disposeth in his Wisdom and Justice, for punishing of wicked people, and exercising of the godly, that the places of government in a Kingdome, are filled not with the best men, but with the vilest of the sons of men; For in Davids experience it was so, and he presupposeth it might fall to be so, that the vilest of men should be exalted. 2. The wickednesse of the ungodly doth in this case break forth most, and spread it selfe among the Subjects, being heartned thereunto by the Rulers toleration, connivance, or instigation, or example, and countenance; For when the vilest men are exalted, then the wicked walk on every side. Turne you where you will, you shall meet with them, at such a time as the vilest are exalted.