Big Idea: In a society where lies and falsehood constitute the “ethical norm,” God’s flawless words reset the standard and are of a seamless piece with God’s character.

Understanding the Text

Psalm 12 has features of an individual lament (12:1–2), the cause of the lament clearly being the depletion of the righteous and the occupation of society by liars and deceivers.

Psalm 12 fills out the picture of the scenario outlined in Psalm 11: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (11:3). Those social/ethical foundations, badly crumbling in Psalm 11, have been obliterated in the religious world of Psalm 12: “for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race” (12:1).

Outline/Structure

The psalm divides into two halves, the first half d…