Seder 9: Psalm 12--Praying for Deliverance from Deceivers

Psalm 12 has been classified as a community lament, a prayer for deliverance from the deceptions of the godless.  For the psalmist, as with Elijah in 1 Kings 19, it seems that there are no righteous people remaining (v 1).  All around him he sees people who are

• lying
• flattering
• hypocritical
• boastful
• do not accept wisdom
• recognize no authority and believe they are accountable to no one.

In contrast God is faithful, reliable, and speaks with pure words.  God will arise, as in the Exodus, to defend the needy.  The psalmist knows that God is the one he can count on (vv 5-7).

The reading in the prophets for this Seder in Zephaniah 3 looks forward to a time, under the Messianic kingdom, when God will "change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech" (v. 9).  At that time, the remnant of Israel "shall do no injustice, and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue" (v 13).  Instead of uniting in defiance of God like the rebels at Babel (Gen 11), people will be united in serving God (v 9).  Zephaniah 3 describes the ultimate answer to the prayer in Psalm 12.