John Trapp on Psalms 12:1

PSAL. XII.

VErſ. 1. Help Lord] 'Twas high time to call to Heaven for help, when Saul cried, Go kill me up the Prieſts of Jehovah (the occaſion as it is thought of making this Pſalm) and therein committed the Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, as ſome grave Divines are of opinion, 1 Sam. 22.17 David after many ſad thoughts about that ſlaughter, and the occaſion of it, Doegs malicious information; together with the paucity of his faſt Friends, and the multitude of his ſworn Enemies at Court, breaks forth abruptly into theſe words, Help Lord, help at a dead lift. The Arabick verſion hath it, Deliver me by main force, as with Weapons of War, for the Lord is a Man of War, Exod. 15.3.

For the godly man ceaſeth] Heb. The merciful man, who having obtained mercy from thee, would ſhew me mercy, and defend mine innocency; ſuch as theſe are baniſhed the Court, which is now poſſeſſed by Paraſites and Sycophants.

For the faithful fail] Veraces, the true and truſty ones, ſuch as a man may ſafely confide in; theſe are rare Birds. See Mic. 7.1, 2, 3, &c. with the Notes there, When the Son of Man cometh, ſhall be finde faith (in this ſence alſo) in the earth? Luke 18. Hard and ſcarce. When Varus was ſlain Auguſtus complained that now he had none left, that would deal plainly and faithfully with him; Lewis the Eleventh of France would ſay, that he had plenty of all things but of one. And being asked of what? Of Truth, quoth he. Aurelian the Emperour was bought and ſold by his Counſellours, for he might know nothing, but as they informed him. David complaineth of Saul, that he was too too apt to hearken to every claw-back tell-tale, 1 Sam. 24.9. & 26.19. ſo that he could have no fair dealing.