Psalm 12
John is a professional navigating the demands of the workaday world. He spends much of his time engaging with clients and colleagues, addressing business concerns, listening, and solving problems. John loves his family and invests in his church community, enjoying meaningful friendships. From the outside, his life appears normal and fulfilling.
Yet beneath the surface, John grapples with a haunting emptiness. He feels trapped in a perpetual competition to win the favor of others and assert his position among peers and even family. Despite excelling in life’s demands, John feels hollow, unable to reach the emotional and relational equilibrium he seeks. This hidden despair stems from his inability to find peace and satisfaction, leaving him yearning for a meaningful life.
Many of us can relate to John’s struggle. At times, we all feel the loneliness of a life driven by the pursuit of public validation. We labor to prove our worth to coworkers, friends, and family, often subconsciously navigating social interactions to impress others and define our value within our environment.
Conventional wisdom suggests that personal value comes from inserting ourselves into the flow of human interaction and making a name for ourselves. It urges us to “just do it” and join the race for success. We are told to participate better, stronger, and faster than those around us to claim our share of life’s rewards. After all, we deserve recognition, and significance comes from securing prominent positions in the social ecosystem. Social media amplifies this, encouraging us to showcase fancy vacations, professional achievements, and personal triumphs to collect followers and find satisfaction in their praise.
Yet, like John, many find this pursuit unrewarding—a relentless race that leaves us tired, discouraged, and unfulfilled. Psalm 12 offers biblical wisdom that speaks to John’s experience, echoing the frustrations of another man, David, who grew weary of the self-promotion and deceit that often define human interactions.
In Psalm 12, David expresses discontent with the self-promoting, dishonest people around him. Through David, God reveals the pitfalls of flattery and manipulative motives. The barrage of public praise for self, aimed at dominating the social landscape, is exhausting and deceptive. Charles Spurgeon captures this sentiment: “The devil of this day is a well-spoken gentleman: he does not persecute—he rather attempts to persuade and to beguile.”[^1] David’s frustration stems from the endless, untruthful words of the world, which fail to fill the inner void and leave us, like John, exhausted and disillusioned. We are all tempted to embrace these words, participate in their spread, and seek human praise over God’s. The Holy Spirit, speaking through Psalm 12, identifies this issue, guiding us toward truth. Martin Luther explains, “The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth, because he makes us true, upright men, without whom all men are liars.”[^2] Scripture offers inspired words that steer us away from shallow self-promotion, fostering an accurate understanding of our identity and God’s provision through Christ.
In the latter half of Psalm 12, David shifts to an alternative: God’s words. He makes two key points. First, God cares for those afflicted by the manipulation of worldly words and recognizes their need for rescue from the cycle of social self-marketing. God sees the race we run and the games people play, calling us to view our situation through His perspective and acknowledge our need for redemption.
Second, God’s words about our inherent value refresh our souls, offering peace that fills the void. Unlike the hollow flattery of the world, God’s truth provides a reliable foundation. John Calvin writes, “Let the faithful, therefore, in our day, not be unduly discouraged at the melancholy sight of a very corrupt and confused state of the world.”[^3] In God, we find dependable, pure words that affirm our value through His provision.
The ultimate provision for John—and for us—is God’s Word made flesh in Jesus Christ. Recognizing the futility of worldly gain, as David did, we see our need for a Savior. Psalm 12 reveals our true condition, prompting us to bring our afflicted hearts to God’s Word, where we find solace and acceptance from the One who knows and provides all we need. Christ satisfies our longing for meaning in a way the world cannot. Our value lies not in worldly praise but in how God sees us through Christ. The Westminster Divines articulate our purpose: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”[^4] In Christ, we find a righteousness more valuable than refined silver, secured by His commitment and sacrifice.
When we falter and slip back into the world’s race, we must remember Christ’s accomplishment on the cross. Our significance is not found in perfect words or social prowess but in dependence on a Savior who meets us where we are, lived perfectly, and gave Himself to grant us righteousness. When John feels the futility of the world’s empty words, he can follow David’s lead, reflecting on God’s truth for purpose and meaning. By resting in the Word—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—we find peace and acceptance. Christ, who knows the number of our days, has secured our eternal value through His loving sacrifice, paving a path to wholeness in God.
[^1]: Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, vol. 1 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1883), 178.
[^2]: Martin Luther, Selections from His Writings, ed. John D. Dillenberger (New York: Anchor Books, 2000), 112.
[^3]: John Calvin, Commentaries on the Book of Psalms, vol. 1, trans. John Anderson (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003), 189.
[^4]: Westminster Assembly, The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647; repr., Glasgow: Free Presbyterian Publications, 1978), Q. 1.