| Psalms 52 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, MASCHIL, A PSALM OF DAVID WHEN DOEG THE EDOMITE CAME AND TOLD SAUL, AND SAID UNTO HIM, DAVID IS COME TO THE HOUSE OF AHIMELECH. This is based on the incident in 1-Samuel chapters 21 & 22. http://britam.org/samuel-21.html http://britam.org/samuel-22.html [Psalms 52:1] WHY BOASTEST THOU THYSELF IN MISCHIEF, O MIGHTY MAN? THE GOODNESS OF GOD ENDURETH CONTINUALLY. <<O MIGHTY MAN?>>: Hebrew "gibor" meaning "hero". This is an unusual use of the word. It implies that Doeg had great merits of his own before turning tale-bearer. S.R. Hirsch says it implies that Doeg prsented his action as a heroic deed and something to be proud of. [Psalms 52:2] THE TONGUE DEVISETH MISCHIEFS; LIKE A SHARP RAZOR, WORKING DECEITFULLY. <<DECEITFULLY>>: Hebrew "rimiah". S.R. Hirsch points to a similar expression, "A DECEITFUL BOW" (Psalms 78:57) and here it implies a bow that causes the person using it to injure himself. So too a well-sharpened knife could cut the one holding it. [Psalms 52:3] THOU LOVEST EVIL MORE THAN GOOD; AND LYING RATHER THAN TO SPEAK RIGHTEOUSNESS. SELAH. <<LOVEST>>: Hebrew "ahavta" in the past tense. You preferred evil over good and lies over truth. Technically Doeg told the truth but the truth in this cases was to an evil intent, i.e. to seek the harm of they who did not deserve it. It was therefore false. [Psalms 52:4] THOU LOVEST ALL DEVOURING WORDS, O THOU DECEITFUL TONGUE. <<DEVOURING>>: Hebrew "bela". They who seek self-aggrandizement though harming others are cannibalizing them. [Psalms 52:5] GOD SHALL LIKEWISE DESTROY THEE FOR EVER, HE SHALL TAKE THEE AWAY, AND PLUCK THEE OUT OF THY DWELLING PLACE, AND ROOT THEE OUT OF THE LAND OF THE LIVING. SELAH. [Psalms 52:6] THE RIGHTEOUS ALSO SHALL SEE, AND FEAR, AND SHALL LAUGH AT HIM: <<ALSO SHALL SEE, AND FEAR>>: It is suggested that Doeg was once a great person. He shall punished for his sin despite hisd passt virtues. This will cause the righteous not to be over-confident in themselves but to fear a similar fate if they too slip up. It was as if Doeg relied on his past good deeds to do something bad as if he was withdrawing money from the bank and relying on the "balance" that remained. This is a common mistake and something we should all be careful about. It will not help. He will be laughed at and so will we if we act in the same way. [Psalms 52:7] LO, THIS IS THE MAN THAT MADE NOT GOD HIS STRENGTH; BUT TRUSTED IN THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS RICHES, AND STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN HIS WICKEDNESS. [Psalms 52:8] BUT I AM LIKE A GREEN OLIVE TREE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD: I TRUST IN THE MERCY OF GOD FOR EVER AND EVER. David was ever young and vibrant renewing his virtue constantly as if everything depended upon his next deeds and present attitude. We all need mercy from the Almighty all the time. None of us can assume that we have some kind of "credit" we can draw upon and trust the Almighty to overlook bad deeds we wish to allow ourselves on the basis of good acts we also do. THE MERCY OF GOD is like a source of water and nutrition for a plant. As long as we are aware of this we will be sustained. [Psalms 52:9] I WILL PRAISE THEE FOR EVER, BECAUSE THOU HAST DONE IT: AND I WILL WAIT ON THY NAME; FOR IT IS GOOD BEFORE THY SAINTS. << THOU HAST DONE IT>>: The principles spoek of here are facts and laws of existence. |