“Help, LORD, for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race. They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.”

Who hasn’t felt like that lately?! Even though the tirade sounds typical for today, those words were penned by King David about 3000 years ago. They are the opening verses in Psalm 12 which closes with a similar message. “The wicked prowl all around, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race (Psalm 12:8).

While this Psalm is bookended with verses of despair, let’s see what lies between. Verse 3 contains David’s prayerful plea that the lies and falsehood would cease even though the wicked have no regard for God (verse 4).

God makes a bold entrance in verse 5 as He hears the cries of the needy and steps in to provide and protect.

Next, we find a stark contrast to the words of the wicked. “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6). The metaphor portrays the words of the LORD as thorough and complete, flawless perfection.

In verse 7, David injects the ingredient we all need, hope. “You, LORD, will guard us; you will protect us from this generation forever.”

The wicked are among us. They do what they do.

So, let’s do what David did.

• Acknowledge there are wicked among us who lie and try to deceive.
• Pray regularly for evil to be defeated.
• Know that God hears and answers the prayers of the righteous.
• Be familiar with and study God’s Word.
• Remain faithful to and hopeful in the one, true God.