Psalms 52

Psalms 52:1

Psalm 52: The Traitor UnmaskedThe historical background of this Psalm is found in 1 Samuel 21, 22. Doeg the Edomite was King Saul’s chief herdsman. He was present when the fugitive David received food and Goliath’s sword from Ahimelech the priest. Soon afterward he went and tattled to Saul, and was rewarded by being delegated to kill Ahimelech and eighty-four other priests of the Lord. Subsequently he massacred the women and children at Nob and destroyed the village and even the animals. Doeg’s character is delineated in verses 1-4 and his doom in verses 5-7. The psalmist’s contrasting character is seen in verses 8 and 9. 52:1-4 David’s opening question assails the traitor for taking pride in his extreme evil and for “forging wild lies all day against God’s loyal servant” (NEB). This treacherous prototype of the Antichrist had a razor-sharp tongue that cut people down with its slander. He had a strong bent for evil more than good, and would rather lie than tell the truth. The personification of deceit, he reveled in speech that wrecked other lives. 52:5 Divine and human justice agree on the fate which the psalmist foretells for Doeg and all his counterparts. God will break him down to the ground like a building reduced to rubble. The Most High will snatch him out of His tent, and completely uproot him from the world of living men. 52:6, 7 God-fearing people will live to see that day, will be struck by the awesome judgment of God, and will chuckle at his reversal, 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.“52:8, 9 The psalmist’s character is in glaring contrast. He compares himself to a green olive tree in the house of Goda picture of prosperity and fruitfulness. The olive is, according to F. W. Grant: . . . the tree in which abides that (oil) which typifies the Spirit of God, green in its freshness of life eternal. It is in the house of God (in contrast to) that “tent” out of which the wicked one is cast. In contrast to Doeg who would not make God his refuge, David is determined that he will trust in the mercy of the LORD forever and ever. Something else he will do forever is to thank the Lord for what He has donenamely, for punishing the wicked and vindicating the righteous. Finally, he will magnify the name of the Lord in the presence of His loyal saints, because His name is good and all that He is is good.