This psalm purports to be “A Psalm of David,” and there is no reason to doubt that it was composed by him. On what occasion it was composed is now unknown, and there is nothing in the psalm itself to enable us to decide. Some have supposed that it was written in view of the persecution of David by Saul; and others, that it was in view of the rebellion of Absalom. There is nothing in the psalm, however, which shows that it has any spectral reference to those persecutions or troubles; nothing which might not have been uttered if those troubles had never occurred. All the expressions in the psalm are of a general character, and seem rather to refer to a prevailing state of iniquity than to any particular manifestation of wickedness as pertaining to the psalmist himself.
The psalm undoubtedly does refer to prevailing iniquity, and it is not difficult to determine to what form of iniquity it refers. It was a general failure of fidelity among good men; a general withdrawal from active duties of such men as had before been found faithful; a lack of that firmness and zeal which it was proper to expect from those who professed to be good men. Particularly, it refers to prevailing modes of speech among those from whom it was right to expect better things: a condition in which there was a lack of seriousness and sincerity in conversation; in which flattery abounded; in which double meanings in conversation were common; in which promises solemnly made could not be relied on; and in which there was, in consequence, great wrong done to the poor and the unsuspecting - those who, on account of their ignorance and their unsuspicious nature, were greatly injured by putting confidence in such promises and assurances. In this state of things the psalmist felt that it was proper to call on God to protect those who were exposed to such wrongs.
The psalm, therefore, is composed of these parts:
I. A statement of the prevailing condition of things, as a reason why it was proper for God to interpose, Psalms 12:1-2.
II. The fact that the Lord would interpose in such cases, and would cut off this class of persons, Psalms 12:3-5.
III. The strong contrast between the words of the Lord and the language which was then in prevalent use, Psalms 12:6. The words of the Lord were pure; pure as silver tried by the severest tests of fire.
IV. A deep conviction on the part of the psalmist that God would be the protector of those who were thus exposed to injury and wrong; particular y he would keep them from the purposes of such a generation forever, Psalms 12:7.
V. The closing verse, “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted” Psalms 12:8, seems to be but the carrying out of the idea of the divine protection in the psalm: “Let the wicked walk about, therefore, on every side when vile men are exalted to power, for God is the protector of his people, and all such men are under his control.” Or it may be the statement of a fact that wickedness did abound, or that people seemed to be unrestrained when wicked men were in power, though with the idea that God saw them, and would so check and restrain them that the injured and the wronged would be protected.
The title to the psalm - “To the chief Musician upon Sheminith” - is the same as that of the sixth Psalm, except that the words “On Neginoth,” used there, are here omitted. See the note at that psalm.