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Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Psalms 12:5

What a blessed relief is here found in divine strength against human deceitfulness; and with what sweetness doth this verse come in to comfort every sorrowful soul, that is sighing and crying for the abominations of the land! There is a time to favour Zion; and that time the King of Zion hath already marked. When his people groan, and when his enemies seem to be at the height of their cruelties, then, saith the Lord, will I arise. My soul, I charge it upon thee to remember this: and when... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Psalms 12:6

How beautifully is this verse introduced, by way of contrast to what was said before concerning the words of the ungodly. Do sinners talk of vanity? let saints then speak of Jesus and his gospel. Do they talk impure words? then let the faithful use the pure words of God, which, like silver; the more used, the more melted in the fire, the more precious will they be. It is true indeed, despisers will esteem both God and his word as trifling; but oh! what unknown treasure doth the word, the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Psalms 12:7-8

These verses seem to have no immediate connection with what went before; nevertheless they come in with a blessed conclusion, to ensure the faithfulness of Jehovah. What though bad men triumph and the faithful are minished, Jesus is the same, yesterday, and today, and forever. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail. 1 Samuel 2:9 . read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Psalms 12:8

REFLECTIONS READER, there never was a period of the Church, when this Psalm seemed to be more applicable. How few are there asking the way to Zion! How many the vacancies made by death in the congregations of the faithful! And who is there pleading, crying, wrestling with Zion's King in prayer, and determined to take no denial, that the Lord would fill those vacancies, and raise up a generation to call him blessed? Alas, alas! may it not with too much truth be said, all seek their own, and not... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:3

Enemy; Saul, &c., or the devil. (St. Augustine) (Calmet) read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:4

Death, by mortal sin, (Worthington) or through excessive sorrow, Jeremias li. 39. Shew me thy favour, (Calmet) and I shall be secure. Sleep is represented as nearly related to death. (Homer, Iliad xiv.) Tum consanguineus lethi sopor. (Virgil, 'c6neid vi.) (Haydock) read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:7

Mercy. Man must attribute nothing to himself, otherwise he will be moved by pride. (St. Augustine) (Calmet) --- Things; patience and reward. (Worthington) --- The prophet feels a secret confidence arising in his breast, in consequence of God's protection. --- Yea, &c., is not in Hebrew but it is in the Septuagint, Arabic, and the ancient Fathers. Hebrew, "My heart shall be transported in thy salvation; I will praise the Lord, because he has rendered me the like," as I placed my hopes in... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Psalms 12:1-8

Prayer for God's Protection of His Church. This psalm again shows a prophetical strain; it is applicable throughout to the little flock, the poor, small crew of the Christian Church, in its many vicissitudes. Cf Acts 2:30. To the chief musician upon Sheminith, upon the octave, to be sung or played with bass voices, or, on an eight-stringed instrument, a psalm of David. v. 1. Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, it was a time when true piety was decreasing both in amount and in influence; ... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Psalms 12:1-8

Psalms 12:0To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David1          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.3     The Lord shall 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?5     For the oppression of the... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

God Our Refuge and Defense Psalms 11:1-7 ; Psalms 12:1-8 The first of these is a debate between fear and faith, and dates from Saul’s persecutions. Timid friends, anxious for David’s safety, urged him to flee to the mountains. Such counsels of expediency are frequently given to the servants of God, Nehemiah 6:1-19 . Luther’s diaries are full of such references. But unless our duty is performed, we must stand our ground; we “can do no other.” We must remember that God’s love is with us, and... read more

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