My tendency when Studying the scriptures is to approach it from a dispensational standpoint. It makes perfect sense when understood from a time line in which God progressively reveals his words and his ways. Sometimes it is safe to trust the most vocal and high profile teachers in the dispensational movement and those who have reputations and the highest degrees of learning when dealing with the various subjects. However, this very reliance on and confidence in these teachers becomes a weakness in the discipline and a liability and can lead the whole movement to miss important truths because of a lack of a critical approach to their reasonings. I think this happened to Psalm 12. It has become a proof text among KJV believers (of which I am one) and dispensationalists for the purity of the word of God and is usually the only reason it is brought up in our conversations. Almost all KJV believers seem to approach this Psalm as a proof text for the pure Bible and while it certainly does no harm to that doctrine, it simply is not the main emphasis of these words.
What does God want us to see in this Psalm? He wants us to see his people under intense persecution and he wants to assure them of his faithfulness in delivering them even under this seemingly invincible tyrant who is puffing at them. This psalm is one song that shares a theme that is developed in the Psalms and the recurring words ties them together. There has been a prayer from his remnant for deliverance. Their prayer seems like it is running into brass and it even seems as if God is asleep while hope is being lost.
So this Psalm assures them of deliverance. It is the only promise of deliverance among those that carry the theme. It is in V 5. Jehovah speaks in this verse. He says he will deliver his remnant. Let me quote it.
Ps 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
This is the key to the whole Psalm. If you miss this the understanding of the Psalm will rely completely on some other reasonings and this reassurance by Jehovah that he will answer will not have the same meaning. There can be no doubt that those who are praying have a promise that gives them hope of intervention but they are concerned about his delay and how it will result in their total destruction.
All that is written before V 5 and after V5 is written by the Psalmist and are his words. But here God speaks with an answer. You have been praying for deliverance from this wicked man and now I am going to do it.
We should look first at some important numbers associated with this Psalm. I am going to begin with the #12, and the #5, and the #8. I will say only now that the number 12 is God's number for his perfect government. When Satan and his man are finally put down then the government of God will be reclaimed and all those who are his will be rescued. It is fitting this should appear in Ps 12.
Then, the number 5 is the number for God's grace. It is instructive that his assurance of salvation comes in V5. God's grace is on display.
There are 8 verses in the Psalm. This number is the number for new things. When the 7 fold fiery refinement of his people is over then they will be a born again nation, every one saved a new man.
Psalms 3:7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Psalms 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
Psalms 9:19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
Psalms 10:12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
Psalms 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Psalms 44:23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Psalms 44:26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies sake.
Psalms 74:22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
Psalms 82:8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
Psalms 132:8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
The answer: Okay, I will! I will do it now. So, this projects us into the future and these events await fulfillment
Psalms 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
There could be a tendency to interpret the Lord's rising to be his resurrection from the dead when in reality it is his rising from his place of his high priestly work at the right hand of the Father on his throne. It is now time to take his Kingly role. So, by the context we can conclude that Verse #1 begins with the rapture of the church and it is in this way that the Psalm can become literal. This could not have been understood by OT saints but today Christians have the capacity to understand these words.
This is a tribulational theme through theses psalms.
Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
What does God want us to see in this Psalm? He wants us to see his people under intense persecution and he wants to assure them of his faithfulness in delivering them even under this seemingly invincible tyrant who is puffing at them. This psalm is one song that shares a theme that is developed in the Psalms and the recurring words ties them together. There has been a prayer from his remnant for deliverance. Their prayer seems like it is running into brass and it even seems as if God is asleep while hope is being lost.
So this Psalm assures them of deliverance. It is the only promise of deliverance among those that carry the theme. It is in V 5. Jehovah speaks in this verse. He says he will deliver his remnant. Let me quote it.
Ps 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
This is the key to the whole Psalm. If you miss this the understanding of the Psalm will rely completely on some other reasonings and this reassurance by Jehovah that he will answer will not have the same meaning. There can be no doubt that those who are praying have a promise that gives them hope of intervention but they are concerned about his delay and how it will result in their total destruction.
All that is written before V 5 and after V5 is written by the Psalmist and are his words. But here God speaks with an answer. You have been praying for deliverance from this wicked man and now I am going to do it.
We should look first at some important numbers associated with this Psalm. I am going to begin with the #12, and the #5, and the #8. I will say only now that the number 12 is God's number for his perfect government. When Satan and his man are finally put down then the government of God will be reclaimed and all those who are his will be rescued. It is fitting this should appear in Ps 12.
Then, the number 5 is the number for God's grace. It is instructive that his assurance of salvation comes in V5. God's grace is on display.
There are 8 verses in the Psalm. This number is the number for new things. When the 7 fold fiery refinement of his people is over then they will be a born again nation, every one saved a new man.
Psalms 3:7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Psalms 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
Psalms 9:19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
Psalms 10:12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
Psalms 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Psalms 44:23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Psalms 44:26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies sake.
Psalms 74:22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
Psalms 82:8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
Psalms 132:8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
The answer: Okay, I will! I will do it now. So, this projects us into the future and these events await fulfillment
Psalms 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
There could be a tendency to interpret the Lord's rising to be his resurrection from the dead when in reality it is his rising from his place of his high priestly work at the right hand of the Father on his throne. It is now time to take his Kingly role. So, by the context we can conclude that Verse #1 begins with the rapture of the church and it is in this way that the Psalm can become literal. This could not have been understood by OT saints but today Christians have the capacity to understand these words.
This is a tribulational theme through theses psalms.
Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.