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posted ago by Q20191776 ago by Q20191776 +191 / -1

PSALM 52. For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: "David has gone to the house of Ahimelech."

Theme: God will judge the evildoer. Our anger must not block our confidence in God's ability to defeat evil.

Author: David

https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/52.html

1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? 2 You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. 3 You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. 4 You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue! 5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. 6 The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying, 7 “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” 8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. 9 For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

Study Notes:

52:1 This psalm was written about Doeg, the Edomite who had betrayed Ahimelech and David and then killed God's priests (see 1 Samuel 21:7; 22:9-23). Doeg thought he was a great hero--even boasting about his deed. In reality, his deed was evil, an offense to God. IT is easy to mistake "accomplishment" with goodness. Just because something is done well or thoroughly doesn't mean it is good (for example, someone may be a great gambler or a skillful liar). Measure all you do by the rule of God's Word, not by how proficiently you do it.

52:8 With God by his side, David compared himself to an olive tree flourishing in the house of God. Not only is the olive tree one of the longest-living trees, but a flourishing tree has even greater longevity. David was contrasting God's eternal protection of his faithful servants with the sudden destruction of the wicked (52:5-7).


I love this psalm, because it emphasizes and reinforces God's answer to me about seeking truth. Each day I can be certain that if I am committed to honoring God's holy name by living my life in honesty and truth, I will fare better in the long run than if I live in deceit.

Lord, thank you for the work of truthseekers. That you for all those who are embracing truth even when it is difficult. Thank you for those who proclaim truth, and humbly admit when they are wrong. Lord, thank you for your healing power within us. Thank you for guiding us to the proper words when we are uncertain. Let us respect your name and renew our commitment to your ways. In Jesus' precious name I pray.

A song: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_Er8YTlfnAE

Have a blessed day, filled with light.