Psalm 52:1-9
Q.1. What were the circumstances of this Psalm? What kind of a person was David addressing? How would this wicked person be recompensed by God? What was David’s expectation and hope? – (Ps.52:1-9)
This Psalm is entitled -FOR THE CHOIR DIRECTOR. A MASKIL OF DAVID, WHEN DOEG THE EDOMITE CAME AND TOLD SAUL AND SAID TO HIM, “DAVID HAS COME TO THE HOUSE OF AHIMELECH. The full story is recorded in 1 Samuel 22:6-19. When David had escaped Saul, he asked Ahimelech the priest at Nob for food. Ahimelech gladly gave food to David, knowing he was the king’s son-in-law. Saul was so angry when he found out, that he ordered his guards to slaughter all the priests. When they refused Doeg, the Edomite killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod, plus their women and children, and all their livestock (1 Sam.22:18-19). Saul had a terrible record of killing innocent people. He added to that, the sin of the Gibeonite revenge (c.f. 2 Sam.21:1-2). The opening verses of this Psalm aptly described the deeds of wicked men like Doeg – 1 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? … 2 Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. 3 You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking what is right. 4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue … the man who would not make God his refuge but trusted in the abundance of his riches and was strong in his evil desire (Ps.52:1-4 & 7). The wicked are the exact opposite to Christ, Who – loved righteousness and hated lawlessness (Heb.1:9). Their raging is short-lived for – God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent and uproot you from the land of the living (Ps.52:5). By contrast – the righteous will see and fear … (Ps.52:6). Speaking of himself, David said – 8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the loving-kindness of God forever and ever (Ps.52:9). He continued – 9 I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, and I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones (Ps.52:9). David was confident that the wicked would not always prosper, and that the righteous would not always be oppressed.