Psalm 52

October 5, 2015

Trust in God (Ps 52:8-52:9)

“I am like a green olive tree

In the house of God.

I trust in the steadfast love of God

Forever and ever.

I will thank you forever,

Because of what you have done.

In the presence of the faithful

I will proclaim your name,

Because it is good.”

David was like a green olive tree in the house of God.  He had always trusted in the steadfast love of God.  He would be eternally thankful.  Thus this psalm ends with David proclaiming the name of God because it was good.  Once again there is a connection that is more vivid in English with God being good, the difference between God and good being just a little “o.”

October 5, 2015

The righteous (Ps 52:6-52:7)

“The righteous will see.

The righteous will fear.

The righteous will laugh at the evildoer.

They say.

‘See the one who would not take refuge in God.

He trusted in abundant riches.

He sought refuge in wealth!”

The righteous one, probably David, would see.  He feared God.  He would laugh saying that the boastful ones had not taken refuge in God, but had trusted in their own abundant wealth.  The righteous, however, trusted in God, not wealth.

October 5, 2015

Deceptive words (Ps 52:4-52:5)

“You love all words that devour.

O deceitful tongue!

But God will break you down forever.

He will snatch you.

He will tear you from your tent.

He will uproot you from the land of the living.”

Selah

This boastful man, probably Saul, loved devouring words since he had a deceitful tongue.  However, God would break him down forever.  He would be snatched and torn from his tent.  He was going to be sent to death, leaving the land of the living.  This section also ends with a meditative musical interlude pause, a Selah.

October 5, 2015

The boastful man (Ps 52:1-52:3)

To the choirmaster leader, a Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, ‘David has come to the house of Ahimelech’

“Why do you boast?

O mighty man!

Why do you boast?

What is the mischief done against the godly?

All day long

You are plotting destruction.

Your tongue is like a sharp razor.

You are a worker of treachery.

You love evil more than good.

You love lying more than speaking the truth.”

Selah

Psalm 52 is loosely based on 1 Samuel, chapter 22, where Doeg the Edomite told Saul where David was hiding.  This choral Davidic psalm asked why he was boastful.  This probably refers to Saul rather Doeg the Edomite.  He was planning all day mischief against the good godly people.  His tongue was like a sharp razor as he loved evil more than good.  He was a worker of treachery.  He loved lies more than truth.  This first section ends with a meditative musical interlude pause, a Selah.