Counting on God – Psalm 52: 1-9
To the leader. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”
1 Why do you boast, O mighty one,
of mischief done against the godly?
All day long 2 you are plotting destruction.
Your tongue is like a sharp razor,
you worker of treachery.
3 You love evil more than good,
and lying more than speaking the truth.Selah
4 You love all words that devour,
O deceitful tongue.
5 But God will break you down forever;
he will snatch and tear you from your tent;
he will uproot you from the land of the living.Selah
6 The righteous will see, and fear,
and will laugh at the evildoer, saying,
7 “See the one who would not take
refuge in God,
but trusted in abundant riches,
and sought refuge in wealth!”
8 But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
forever and ever.
9 I will thank you forever,
because of what you have done.
In the presence of the faithful
I will proclaim your name, for it is good.
What does the passage say?
Maskil is known as a contemplative poem. David is writing this poem after an event that happened during the time he ran away from Saul’s rage.
He found refuge under the high priest, Ahimelech, and received food and a sword from the high priest. One of the attendants of the high priest, Doeg the Edomite, tattles on the king, and Saul commands the high priest to be killed. (To read 1 Samuel 21 -22 click, To read a summary of the story click)
David response to this event through this prayer preserved in the Psalms.
V. 1-4 David is reflecting on the evil act of Doeg the Edomite. He sees how destructive the act of evil can be. They seem to be powerful at the moment. They seem to be effective enough to persecute the godly.
V. 5-7 However David knows that the judgment is of God. He says, “God will tear you limb from limb, sweep you up and throw you out. Pull you up by the roots from the land of life” (v. 5 The Message). I am not advocating that Christians should pray for their enemies in this way. This was more of a rant of David, petitioning to God. However, we have to see David’s faith in God, knowing that God is a God of righteous. God will deal with them in God’s way.
V. 8-9 On the other hand, David says that he will not focus on the wrongdoing of others. He will focus on the protection he has in the grace of God, who is his rock and salvation.
What does this mean to me/ us?
When evil prevails, we can easily get discouraged. Especially, when it seems like the evil is powerful and we are suffering under the realm of evil. However, we need to remember the faith that David had. Before he went off to fight Goliath, the Philistines were taunting him. In response to his, enemies taunting he said, “… this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into your hand” (1 Sam 17:47, NRSV). The faith that David has is reflected during this event of Doeg the Edomite tattling on to the King.
Instead of focusing on to the misconduct of the evil he concentrates on the grace he has in the Lord. He remembers that he is in the presence of God (v.8). He trusts in the Lord (v. 8), and continues his praise and thanksgiving to the Lord (v. 9). As a fugitive, this is a great deal of faith. However, we see that his faith prevails, in the life and journey of David. So we need to remember not to focus on the misconduct of others, in our lives, but rather focus on God’s plan and protection.
Gracious God. We know that you have a plan for us. When it seems like we are walking in the valley of death, with all evil prevailing, helps us to see you and your plan. Help us to have complete reliance to you, like David. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
What are your thoughts?
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