The Words of the Wicked, the Words of Righteous and the Words of God The psalmist here reveals the impact of people’s vain words (Ps. 12: 1-4). As a contrast he reveals the good impact of God’s pure words (Ps. 12: 5-8), as well as the words and crying out of the miserable righteous ones (Ps. 12: 5). The wicked words are the worst evil possible; these destroy man’s soul, the family unity and the church. This issue may seem insignificant and of no impact and that there is no comparison between it and the rest of physical sinful passions, and violent crimes such as murders, slavery and theft. This iniquity that may seem insignificant pierces our inner person, our families and the church. In such a way it could tear the links of man’s very existence. If we do not believe a husband of wife, a brother or a sister or a priest – then, the entire structure of the family and the church will collapse to the ground. The psalmist presents to us three kinds of words: 1. The words of the unrighteous lying, hypocrisy, and arrogance. They speak on behalf of their father’s mouth, Satan. He is the liar and father to every liar. He is the deceiver and the arrogant one. 2. The words of the righteous: the signs of the poor ones because of their sufferings and the hardships of this life. The Lord our Father hears the words of the heart and its hidden signs. 3. God’s words: these are the pure words, the source of salvation. Some think this psalm is a plural lamentation1 or dirge that has been uttered by the psalmist on behalf of those who fear God. They cry out asking for salvation, and for the deliverance from the cheating ones, who adopted the form of hypocrisy and lying on one hand; also the form of violence and injustice on the other hand! The psalmist declares how God’s people have long waited, begging for God’s work of salvation so they be kept safe from the hypocrites. They fond the healing answer in His divine Word that promises His godly covenant. The structure of the Psalm 1. A call for salvation. 1 2. The Motive for this desperate call. 1- 2 3. A prayer presented by the chorus. 3 4. The utterance on behalf of the wicked ones, by means of another choir. 4 5. A godly inspiration uttered by a priest or a prophet in the name of God 5 6. A response from the Choir hymners to God’s words, by means of a second choir group. 6 7. A prayer of confidence said by the first choir. 7 8. Conclusion; similar to the introduction of lamentation chanted by most of the choir singers. 8 1 Interpreter's Concise Commentary, Psalms, p. 80. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 14 The Topic “for the fulfillment, for the sake of the eighth”, we have previously commented on such a topic when studying the Psalms 5, 6, 8. St. Augustine says, “the ‘eighth’ is understood to mean ‘eternity’. After the passing of the present time, which is the cycle of seven consecutive days, the eighth comes as the portion of saints. The psalmist says (Ps. 12: 8) ‘The wicked prowl on every side’, that is, they walk in the passion for what is temporal. This cycles in repeated chains of seven days, and for this reason they do not reach the eighth day. this means they are not blessed with eternity, which is the topic of the psalm”. The Hebrews used to make use of this psalm on the eighth day, the circumcision day. The Need for the Saints The world is in need of the saints as witnesses for God’s work, as a source of blessing for others. David cries out saying (Ps. 12: 1) “Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases!” as a foil to the saints, there are humans in this world of great numbers. The chanter found no rights or truth among the people, he just found lies. More accurately, he found emptiness which means ‘falsehood’ and ‘disloyalty’ and ‘negligence’. (Ps. 12: 1) “For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men”. David the prophet meditated within himself in bitterness, only to find out that his generation has deceived him. He became s if dealing with the sons of Baal, where there is no righteous one he could trust. David may have looked around only to find King Saul, whom David had rescued from shame, and from the mighty Goliath, trying to arm the country’s potentials against David. He was also betrayed by the people of Zef (1Sam. 24: 19), as well as by the people of Kaiila (1Sam. 26). David may have also recalled the priests who met their death at Ndo (1Sam. 21). David felt as if there was no honest man in the entire world. In this feeling, he may have resembled Elijah the prophet when he cried out saying (Rom. 11: 3) “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars, and I alone am left and they see my life”. David the prophet may have been speaking on behalf of the Lord Jesus who has come to save the world. The human nature has become corrupted, and the truth has been lost from man’s life. This is why he cries out in our name asking for the salvation by renewing our nature, and our being united with the truth. There is no other path for the return of the righteous life and the return of justice to the world, except it is by the Lord Jesus’ Salvation. This is why the psalmist begins with a sort and mighty cry, ‘Help, Lord’. The Evil Tongue “They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaks proud things, who have said, with our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?” (Ps. 12: 2-4) The tongue is a gift from God; with it we give praise to God, and with it we talk with others. If we misuse it, it becomes fire and an evil-doer (James 3; Ps. 141: 3). St. Augustine says the disdainful hypocrites rely on their speech in deceiving people, and not yielding to God. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 15 David the prophet pleads to God asking the hypocrites may perish. These are the ones who threaten the righteous; God promises to help chose who undergo hardship, and to answer the sighs of the poor ones. May no one deceive his neighbor, as the psalmist says here and there ‘with following hips and a double heart they speak’ there is nothing that begets enmity as much as cheating and deception1. St. John Chrysostom The mouth is the source of all evil; rather, it is not the mouth but those who misuse it. from it curses spring up and humiliation and blasphemies, and what provokes passions, murders, adulteries, thefts – all of these come from the mouth being misused. You may ask ‘how could it cause murder? This is because due to curses wrath is provoked. From wrath, there comes the beating, and this urges homicide. Once more ‘how could it cause adultery?’ Someone may say ‘this woman loves you and speaks to you sweetly!’ at this point passion is kindled in you2! St. John Chrysostom After the psalmist has spoken of the wicked ones’ words that reveal their father’s nature: the deception together with violence, he then offers us the word of God in us. The adversary has planted in us two hearts, or two faces. With one of these we utter soft and sweet words and with the other we have ugly and wicked thoughts. With one of them we live inside the church, and with the other we deal with others. The issue is remedied by changing the work of the adversary by God’s work, or by changing the adversary’s word with the divine Word of God, for it is the word of the One who grants us salvation “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise, says the Lord; I will set him in the safety for which he yearns. The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.” (Ps.12: 5, 6) The arrogant words of people lead to atheism, for they say ‘our lips are our own; who is lord over us?’ as for the Lord’s words, they are pure’ they are as the silver purified in a furnace seven times. His words are actually promises offered to us, that ensure our safety in Him. ‘they have been purified seven times’ – this is by means of: 1. the fear of the Lord 2. by correction 3. by knowledge 4. by the ability 5. by the council 6. by understanding 7. by wisdom (Is. 11: 2). There are seven stages for being blessed. The Lord ascended them as mentioned in St. Matthew’s gospel, in the same sermon He spoke on the mount (Matt. 5: 3-9). St. Augustine 1 Hom. On Eph. 14. 2 Ibid. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 16 just as the silver is probably purified, likewise is the righteous one tested. He thus becomes a currency for the Lord, which receives the royal picture. Solomon too, says (Prov. 10: 20) “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver”. By these words he shows that well-tested education that has been confirmed in its wisdom, this is appreciated and accepted. This is proved on earth when the agnostic spiritual and knowledgeable person is sanctified in several ways. This spirit is pulled out of the earthly fires. As for the body in which this spirit dwells, this is purified and attains the appropriate purity benefiting a sanctified temple1. St. Clemendos the Alexandrian Safety in the Midst of Difficulties The deceiving people surround us on all sides (Ps. 12: 8). They whip their wicked tongues against us in deceit and inward violence. But the Word of God offers us divine promises and changes our life into a ‘joyful praise’. Thus we chant with the psalmist (Ps. 12: 7) “You shall keep them Lord, You shall preserve them forum this generation forever”. The wicked keep resisting God’s children in every generation and in every spot in the world till the end of ages. The Word of God remains truthful to us and keeps us safe forever. 1 Stromata 6: 7. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 17 Your words are Spirit and Life Let the wicked tongues wage against me, Let its arrows so fatal, strike me. Your word, o Lord grants salvation It is my shelter and my salvation, It is my joy and my entire life.
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