Psalm 52

“Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually. Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness.  Selah  You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue. 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  The righteous also shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, ‘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.’ But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. 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." Psalm 52:1-9 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm is a “Contemplation of David” when Doeg the Edomite told King Saul that David and his men had been given refuge at the house of Ahimelech, the priest.  The story is found in 1 Samuel.  

“And the king (Saul) said, ‘You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!’ Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, ‘Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.’ But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. And the king said to Doeg, ‘You turn and kill the priests!’ So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep - with the edge of the sword. Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests. So David said to Abiathar, ‘I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s house. Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe.’” 1 Samuel 22:16-23 (NKJV)

Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, as was Doeg.  It helps to understand that because none of Saul’s Jewish soldiers would dare kill Ahimelech, the priest—no problem for the Gentile.  David’s psalm is a reminder that God sees and repays injustices.  It is a psalm of hope in God’s justice, even when we are at our most vulnerable and helpless seasons of life (green olive tree in the house of God).  Have you put your faith and trust in Him, or are you still trying to reason & hustle your way through life?  All who turn to Him through the “Son of David,” Jesus, He will hold you in His hand (John 10:28-29) and by no means cast out!  (John 6:37)

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”  1 John 4:4 (NKJV)