Psalms

To the Chief Musician. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

This Psalm was written by David, to be played on 8 string harp, and it was for the chief musician.  In this Psalm David contrasts the idle words of those around him with the words of the Lord.  David was a warrior but he surely felt frustrated trying to fight against idle words, gossip and two-faced friends.  It was a painful time to be a believer because he felt so alone.  He gave his case to the Lord. 

¹Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases!
         For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
 ² They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;
         With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
We don't know the specific circumstances or time in David's life as it pertains to this Psalm.  We've all felt the loneliness when those we thought understood us or stood with us have actually turned away.  That's what David is feeling here.  When he needed those godly men and faithful people they have disappeared.  You suddenly feel as though you are standing alone.  The godly remnant of the faithful believers seems to be getting smaller.

The people David once thought as godly were taken to gossip.  Instead of standing with Him or honoring the Lord with their lips they turned to idle gossip.  And in their gossip they speak with flattering lips……. telling folks what they want to hear.  And they speak with a double heart…… having two loyalties; or being two faced.  It does seem as though the world continues to change and the godly and faithful are fewer among men. 

 ³ May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
         And the tongue that speaks proud things,
 ⁴ Who have said,
         "With our tongue we will prevail;
         Our lips are our own;
         Who is lord over us?"

David asks that the Lord deal with this situation.  In their gossip they claim to know the answer to all things.  They speak proudly, thinking more of themselves than they ought.  By their actions and the failure to cease in their gossip they are saying they can solve all things by their talk.  They are claiming their speech is their own and they won't answer to the Lord for it.

⁵"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."
God's timing is perfect.  David sees the oppression of his fellow man and the needy among them.  Now that he's been hurt by these talkers he understands how painful and wicked it is.  He now sees how many others have been hurt.  He probably hadn't noticed prior to being hurt himself.  Now I will arise, says the Lord.  The Lord will rise up and protect them and put them in safety. 

Imagine the Lord rising up.  This is that phrase where the Lord steps in the fight a battle. When the Lord moves it is marked by the shaking of the heavens and earth; mountains crumble and fall down; storms bring lightning and thunder.  When God arises He says He will deliver the poor and needy to the place of safety for which they yearn.  

 ⁶ The words of the LORD are pure words,
         Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
         Purified seven times.
 ⁷ You shall keep them, O LORD,
         You shall preserve them from this generation forever.
David draws a distinction between the idle words of these gossips and the pure words of the Lord.  The gossip sees their proud, two faced words as meaningful and important to them, but in reality their words inflict pain.  The word of the Lord is pure like silver that has been through the fire seven times.  It couldn't be any more pure.  David declares also that the words from the Lord are pure but also that the Lord shall keep His own words.  He alone will preserve them forever. 

 ⁸ The wicked prowl on every side,
         When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

David ends this Psalm on a realistic note.  The wicked will still prowl all around us because the vileness is exalted among men.  As long as evil is loose in the world, there will be evil men.  Evil men will gather and celebrate their wicked ways.  As they do this, they feel strengthened to prowl all around the people of the Lord. 

That may seem like a depressing end to the Psalm.  However, it is just realistic.  That's the way our fallen world is.  It doesn't change the fact that God's word is pure and eternal and that he will fight for us.  What's amazing is that it doesn't change the ways of the two faced, proud gossip.