When have times been good? Except in the “good old days” which exist only in the minds of those making a comparison between the past which they are prone to sentimentalise, and the present which constitute the proverbial “evil times”?
Doesn’t the psalmist sound a bit like the prophet Elijah? “I’m the only prophet of God left in Israel; and there are 450 prophets of Baal.” “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” God had to correct his ignorance. “But Elijah, But I still have 7,000 people in Israel whose knees have not knelt to worship Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Now near the psalmist: “Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have all disappeared from humankind”. (12:1)
I suppose there is so much unfaithfulness in the best of us, that he was talking the truth. But something tells me that he wasn’t including himself in the unfaithful lot when he declared that “they utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak,” because he goes on to pray, “May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boast.” Oh! Thank God I’m not a flatterer. And I better quit my boasting habit now!
It is good to know, though, that however flawed we are, we can count on the flawless God to take us seriously and to be concerned about delivering us from evil.
Since we cannot bring back the “good old days” and must settle for the present evil times, why are we hesitant to accept the help of the One who can defend us if “on every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among humankind” (v.8).
Maybe it’s the fact that some of us enjoy the safety of a peace zone (by which I mean that we don’t live in a war zone with drones dropping bombs on us) we cannot feel the urgent need to pray for protection. Our maybe our dreams of and desire for peace do not align with those of the Prince of Peace, without whose Presence the ungodly will be the powerful.
In any case, then, may heaven help us.