Rev. S. de Marie is presently doing a series of daily compact meditations on the Psalms (having commenced with Psalm 1) and they are so comforting – especially in times of difficulty. Here are a recent couple, which I have combined, on Psalms 12 and 13.[i] Both Psalms are a cry by David for help amidst oppression and he finds comfort, as we may too, in the LORD’s reply. JN
PURE WORDS
In Psalm 12 the speech of the wicked stands in direct opposition to the words of the LORD. Falsehood, unfaithfulness, deceit, double-mindedness, and flattery characterize those who rise up against the LORD and His people (vv.2,3). By contrast, truth, faithfulness, honesty, and clarity characterize the LORD (v.7). Moreover, these deceivers and flatterers gain the upper hand because with their flattery they appeal to the sinful heart of man; therefore they are honoured by the majority (vv.2,5,8).
In the first part of the psalm, David laments that there are so few who are truly sincere believers, while these are exposed to many who, with lies, deceit, and flattery, mislead and manipulate people. In response to this, he cries out to the LORD, who knows all hearts, that He may judge all deceit. Believers can be certain that nothing escapes the LORD, that He will hear their cry and preserve them.
This psalm is not primarily about people who, as “blind heathen”, exchange the truth of God for the lie (Rom. 1:25). The liars and flatterers are members of God’s people, God’s church.
Also in the New Testament churches, and throughout church history, lies, flattery, and deceit have proved devastating, so that the majority loves the lie rather than the truth (see 2 Cor. 11:3ff; Gal. 4:17ff; Eph. 5:6ff; 1 Tim. 4:1ff; 6:3ff; 2 Tim. 2:14ff; 3:1ff; Titus 1:10ff; 2 Pet. 2:1ff; 1 John 4:1ff; 2 John 7ff; Jude 8ff).
When experiencing lies and deceit, we too may expect our help from the LORD. We cannot boast in our own faithfulness and goodness. We too are sinners who can live only by grace. But at God’s infallible Word and on the basis of His sure promises, we may be assured of God’s nearness amid all attacks, extending into eternity (v.7).
HOW LONG?
In Psalm 12 David expresses that he finds himself surrounded by a great majority of the wicked. This can produce feelings of desolation. Compare this with Elijah, who felt completely alone and in the wilderness asked the LORD that he might die.
But in Psalm 13 David is even worse off: he feels himself abandoned even by God. For believers it can be a real struggle in difficult times to continue believing that the LORD is near to them even in their darkest moment. When the situation, in our judgment, has no prospect of improvement, we might in our despair doubt God’s regard for us and even God’s faithfulness, omnipotence and guidance.
We do not yet read a despair that has led to such doubt in this psalm. In his miserable situation David makes an urgent appeal to God no longer to hide His face from him. David struggles with the fact that as a favourite of the LORD he must endure so much evil. His sorrow goes beyond the evil itself. His sorrow is: where is the LORD and His salvation?
He comes with an intense, repeated cry of “How long?” to the LORD. He does not stop praying but shows that the LORD uses the emergency to cause him to continue testifying of his dependence on Him.
David thereby appeals to God’s promises of faithfulness: “But I have trusted in Your mercy.” His trust in God as the God of the covenant is so strong that he already speaks of his gratitude and great joy that will be there when God has delivered him.
David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is here an example to us as a man after God’s own heart. As believers we may know far better than David that the LORD will never leave us, precisely because He did leave His only begotten Son. We therefore have even more reason never to doubt God’s help.
[i] MARCH 12, 2026 – PURE WORDS – Bouwen en Bewaren and MARCH 13, 2026 – HOW LONG? – Bouwen en Bewaren