What does Psalm 12:1 mean?

David prays for deliverance from an evil culture. He laments the decline of faithful believers. As with many statements in Psalms and Proverbs, this presents a natural human perspective. From David's point of view, it seems there are no good people left.

Scripture presents several instances of God's followers suffering when they felt alone in a godless culture. Lot made a very bad choice: to move near, then into, Sodom (Genesis 13:10–13). There, his soul was grieved by the decadence of those who surrounded him. Peter states, "for as that righteous man lived among [the wicked people of Sodom] day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard" (2 Peter 2:8). Writing to the Philippian believers, Paul describes the culture of Philippi as "crooked and twisted," contrasting the wickedness of the culture with the righteous testimony of the believers (Philippians 2:15). He describes godly people as shining lights in the world (Matthew 5:16).

Many years after David, the prophet Elijah decried the faithlessness of the people of Israel. He also mourned as if he was the only God-honoring person left in the land (1 Kings 18:22; 19:10).

The term used in this Psalm's introduction, sheminith, is often left untranslated. It is apparently related to the Hebrew word for "eight" or "eighth." This instruction might refer to an eight-stringed instrument or some other musical requirement.