The words of the Lord are pure words . There is no base alloy in them: therefore they may be trusted. What God promises, he will perform. As silver tried in a furnace of earth ; rather, perhaps, silver assayed in a crucible on earth (Kay). Purified seven times (comp. Psalms 18:30 ; Psalms 19:8 ; Psalms 119:140 ; Proverbs 30:5 ). read more
The preciousness of the Word. "The words of the Lord," etc. Thus the Bible bears witness to itself. We read often in Scripture of "the word of the Lord"—not so often of "the words" of the Lord. By "the Word of the Lord" is meant sometimes a particular command, promise, or prediction; but frequently—and usually in the New Testament—the substance or sum-total of Divine truth ( Psalms 119:9 , e.g. ). But this phrase, "the words of the Lord," calls attention to the actual utterances in... read more
Thou shalt keep them, O Lord . God having promised to set the righteous, who are oppressed, in a place of safety ( Psalms 12:5 ), the psalmist is sure that he will keep them and preserve them from the wicked "generation," which has possession of the earth, and bears rule in it, always. It is, no doubt, for the greater consolation and encouragement of these unfortunates that he dwells on the subject, and adds his own assurances to the Divine promise which he has recorded. Man's faith is... read more
The words of the Lord - In contrast with the words of the persons referred to in Psalms 12:2-4. Their words were vanity, flattery, and falsehood; and no reliance could be placed on them. In contrast with these words, the words of the Lord were pure. They were to be relied on. All his sayings were true and faithful. The design is to bring his words into contrast with the sayings of such men, and to show how much more safety there is in relying on his promises than on the promises made by such... read more
“Thou shalt keep them That is, the persons referred to in Psalms 12:5 - the poor and the needy who were suffering from the wrongs inflicted on them. The idea is, that God would guard and defend them. They were safe in his hands. Compare Psalms 37:3-7.From this generation - This generation, or this race of detractors, flatterers, and oppressors. The idea is, that that entire generation was eminently wicked, and that none but God could deliver the poor and the needy from their designs.Forever -... read more
Psalms 12:6. The words of the Lord are pure Without the least mixture of falsehood, and therefore shall be infallibly fulfilled. Men often speak rashly, and promise what they cannot perform, and deceitfully, what they never intend to perform. But God’s words are different; they are pure from all manner of dross; from all folly, or fraud, or uncertainty. “Often have they been put to the test, in the trials of the faithful, like silver committed to the furnace in an earthen crucible; but,... read more
Psalms 12:7. Thou shalt keep them Thy words or promises last mentioned. Hebrew, תשׁמרם , tishmerem, thou wilt observe them; and what thou hast promised shall surely be performed, since with thee is no variableness nor shadow of turning. Thou wilt preserve them Hebrew, תצרני , titzrennu thou wilt keep him, that is, thy poor and lowly servant, (spoken of Psalms 12:5,) from the craft and malice of this crooked and perverse generation of men, so that he shall neither be circumvented by... read more
Psalms 11-13 Persevere . . . or give in?There came a time when David became tired of his continual flight from Saul, not just because it was wearying, but because it was cutting him off from the public worship places of God’s people (1 Samuel 26:19). His spiritual life was weakened and he gave in to the temptation to leave his own country for the safety of enemy Philistia (1 Samuel 27:1). This is the sort of temptation that David considers in Psalms 11:0, the temptation to go along with... read more
words = the spoken words, sayings, or utterances. Compare Psalms 119:38 . silver tried: i.e. pure silver. furnace = crucible. Put a full stop after this word. of = to, or pertaining to (referring to the "words"). The letter lamed is the sign of the Dative case, not the Genitive. earth. Hebrew. 'erez (the earth), not 'adamah (the ground): i.e. "words for, or pertaining to the earth", but purified seven times: i.e. with spiritual perfection (see App-10 ). Some are used with a higher... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8
Lamentation over the growing corruption of the nation. "The psalmist is appalled by the rottenness of society around him; unscrupulous ambition appears to rule supreme; truth is scorned as folly, and the god of lies is enthroned in the national heart. But God had not left himself without a witness." Prophets and seers had already declared the Divine word of promise, that the righteous cause should be upheld and vindicated. I. A DARK PICTURE OF DEPRAVED SOCIETY . 1 .... read more