“To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” (Psalms 12:1)
It’s believed that David wrote this psalm when he was living in King Saul’s court. It wasn’t long before the Lord’s favor over David was noticed by all arousing jealousy and treachery against him. When he went into battle the Lord’s favor helped him in victory which turned Saul’s feelings against him. “And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.” (1Samuel 18:6-9) This jealousy grew to murderous intention at which time David had to flee from Saul.
One of the most honest prayers we can pray is “Help, Lord!” It’s evident of our dependance on the Lord’s ability to help us. It recognizes the Lordship of God. And it acknowledges the Lord as the source of all help. When trouble comes, we first try to solve it on our own. Yes, the Lord has given us the intelligence to solve our problems. But when we rely on human wisdom, we soon learn that our attempts are futile. And most times when all our efforts have failed, and all our resources are exhausted we turn to the Lord. The Lord is all wisdom and all knowledge. We waste so much time and effort when we don’t go to the Lord first for His direction and for His instruction.
In his song David prays, “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth.” David was astute. He knew there was a conspiracy to kill him. “And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.” (1Samuel 19:1) David honored authority. He honored his king and even when he had the opportunity to kill him, he didn’t. “David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.” (1Samuel 24:8-12)
David continues in his song, “for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” The word that was translated fail actually meant disperse. Although it’s believed that David wrote this of his time in Saul’s courts, his songs were most times prophetic in nature. There was an anointing to pen these psalms prophetically of the Messiah.
Did Jesus pray for help? Paul who was given great revelation wrote, “Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared;”(Hebrews 5:7). Jesus was all God, but also all man. He was tempted just as we are. (Hebrew 4:15) The gravity of the crucifixion was heavy on His mind since He began His ministry. He shared what was to happen with His disciples, but they did not understand. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” (Matthew 16:21) Then it’s recorded that after the transfiguration He spoke again of His death. (Matthew 17:22, 23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45) Then again Jesus mentioned His death as they were going to Jerusalem for the Passover. (Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34)
The godly men, the religious leaders, the chief priests and elders, who read and studied the Scriptures no longer followed the Law, but in their jealousy and hatred of Jesus plotted to kill Him. His arrest was illegal, in the night secretly. Witnesses were sought before an accusation. The night trial was illegal. Blasphemy was the only charge, but Roman law wouldn’t sentence a man to die because of blasphemy. So, witnesses were found, and the “godly men” changed the charge to treason which was punishable by death. “The godly man ceaseth...” The godly man was no longer.
“...for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” The disciples who said they would never leave Jesus abandoned Him. Many of His disciples left Jesus when He spoke of eating His body and drinking His blood because they did not understand. But the faithful twelve stayed with Him. “Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:68-69) But when Jesus was arrested, they all ran away in fear. “In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on Me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled.” (Matthew 26:55-56) And Peter who followed to see what would happen to Jesus denied Him three times. The faithful failed Jesus.
David in writing about his suffering in Saul’s court wrote a prophetic song of the treachery and conspiracy against Jesus, the coming Messiah.
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