Ps 52

Ps 52:1 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually.

:2 Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

:3 You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah

:4 You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.

:5 God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

:6 The righteous also shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,

:7 “ Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”

:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

:9 I will praise You forever, because You have done it; and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.

The heading is The End of the Wicked and the Peace of the Godly.

This psalm is in response to the story in 1 Samuel 21-22. The story of Doeg the Edomite is one of the worst in scripture.

Here is a recap. The tabernacle was located in Nob. A whole family of the Lord's priests lived there. David was on the run from Saul. David went to the priest, not telling who he really was and asked for bread for his men, a sword, and a blessing from the Lord. The priest not knowing who he was granted all three.

Standing in the crowd watching however was one of Saul's men, Doeg. He of course told Saul everything. Saul confronted the priest and in a rage ordered his men to kill him and his family. The soldiers refused to harm the priests of the Lord. Doeg, seeing a way to get in good with Saul, volunteered. He killed eighty-five members of the priest family along with everyone in Nob. Only one person escaped, Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, and he went to find David.

David was very upset of course. Soon David sat down and wrote Psalm 52 condemning Doeg and every other person who tries to grow strong by destroying others.

We are never told what happened to Doeg. We can be sure that God at some time brought Doeg to ruin.

David is compared to a green olive tree. Several psalms mention olive trees.

1. They have a remarkably long life.
2. The tree is evergreen and hardy even in a harsh environment.
3. Its fruit is valuable and satisfying.