by Rev. Alex. McPherson
PSALM FIFTY-TWO
This Psalm tells how the malice of the wicked, however terrible, cannot avail against the purpose of God to bless his people. There are times when it might appear as if evil men were about to triumph over the church or its individual members. This Psalm was composed at such a time. We are told of the circumstances in 1 Sam. 21: 1-10, and 22: 6-23. David had been compelled to flee from Saul and came to Ahimelech the priest at Nob. Concealing the reason for his hasty journey, he obtained from the priest, bread and the sword of Goliath, then fled to Gath. But the transaction did not go unobserved by an enemy. When Saul began an enquiry into the circumstances of David’s escape from his hands, Doeg reported what he had seen at Nob, and at Saul’s command butchered the priests and their families who dwelt at Nob. The title of the Psalm speaks of the incident and informs us of who the evil persons spoken about are. There is this also to be noted, that the wicked people concerned may be worldly men inside the church. Doeg was an Edomite. He possessed all the malice and envy which characterised his people’s attitude towards Israel, yet he was at the tabernacle at Nob for some religious purpose. So it is sometimes found that within the visible church there are those who hate the Lord and his people, and show this clearly when it suits them to do so.
Verse 1. “Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually.”
This is the theme of the Psalm. Of what use is it for even the greatest and most powerful mischief makers to boast? That cannot hinder God from doing whatever in his goodness He purposes to perform. Nothing is clearer from the Word of God than that He intends to bless his people. He made a promise to our fallen first parents in Eden which He has kept by sending his Son to redeem his chosen people by dying for them; “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” The purpose to do good to sinners formed in eternity is taking its course with absolute certainty. From Calvary itself the prophetic word has gone forth from “the faithful witness”; “They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this” (Ps. 22:31). Because of this unchangeable purpose, the goodness of God endureth continually.
“O but the counsel of the Lord
doth stand for ever sure;
And of his heart the purposes
from age to age endure.
That nation blessed is, whose God
Jehovah is, and those
A blessed people are, whom for
his heritage he chose.”
Psalm 33, v. 11, 12.
Verses 2, 3. “Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.”
David now describes the sort of evil-doing which he had in mind specially, as exemplified by the case of Doeg, viz. sins of the tongue proceeding from a wicket heart. Doeg’s report was intended to make trouble for Ahimelech and the priests, and how well he succeeded! Notice that his report of what took place between David and Ahimelech makes no mention of the priest’s scruples about helping David if he were in disfavour with Saul. The deliberate nature of the omission becomes clear when it is seen how willing he was to act as the executioner of the priests. He made use of falsehood, employed his tongue like a sharp razor, because he loved evil and lying. This is falsehood at its very worst, using it to destroy men’s lives and these men the ministers of God. It is hardly less heinous to use it to destroy men’s characters, and there is reason to fear that incomplete, unbalanced accounts of events have been employed for this purpose by persons who would fear to tell outright lies. Yet God regards the two types of falsehood alike and will deal with the purveyors of half-truths as He deals with full-blown liars. Let us search our hearts to see if we have been guilty of this vile behaviour. Perhaps that is the duty to which “Selah” here urges us.
Verse 4. “Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.”
Do we shrink from such a description, beseeching God to preserve us from the spirit and sin of Doeg? And as we listen to accounts of happenings at a distance affecting the work of the church and the reputations of the workers, are we most careful to ask ourselves whether these are full, unbiased testimonies or partial, slanted accounts designed to win support for one particular point of view? Alas, if the point of view be wrong, and if our support be enlisted in a bad cause? Watch then for devouring words and the deceitful tongue.
Verse 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.”
Here is revealed God’s attitude towards malicious liars. Of the details of Doeg’s end we know nothing, but this is a prediction of it. As he had destroyed others, so God would destroy him. He had lived as if there were no world beyond this; when he was cut off, he would be rooted out from all connection with the living; dying he would die. So it shall be with all who love and make lies.
Verse 6. “The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him.”
There will be cases where the divine judgment upon liars will be obvious. Righteous men shall observe them and fear as the divine holiness and rectitude flame out against this kind of iniquity. And however sad and troubled they may now feel as falsehood works its evil way, the time will come when they shall see how ludicrous are the attempts of sinners to frustrate God’s beneficent purposes by lying.
Verse 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.”
God’s people shall then fully realise that the power of the wicked rich is not lasting. Often they are permitted to have a season of prosperity, and the more they have of it, the more they trust in their own strength, but their summer is not to last. Look around you today. Are not men to be seen on every hand trusting in themselves, in wealth, in their power, in their freedom to work iniquity? God is forgotten, but wait! “The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; . . . The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity . . .” (Ps. 99).
Verse 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.”
In contrast with the precarious state of the wicked, one shortly to end with a violent uprooting, David sees his own state as like an olive tree flourishing in the house of the Lord. The presently flourishing Doegs are to be uprooted and destroyed. The oppressed members of the church of God are to strike their roots all the deeper as a result of affliction. It only makes them all the stronger and more fruitful. Their hope is in God’s mercy, and they believe that all things will work together for their eternal good. The sorrows and trials of earth will cause their affections to rise all the more to the place where their Saviour dwells and from which He blesses them.
Verse 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.”
Because they expect a good issue, they should praise God. That is what they shall be doing for ever. “I will wait on thy name.” Does that mean, “I will wait in hope from what I know of thy name, thy manifested perfections as the only good One who doeth good to the humble folk that call upon thee?” Only let God’s people remember the Name of their God, and the greatest trials shall not shake their hope or confidence; the most wicked lies shall be revealed, and the worst results flowing from them shall yet be avenged and overruled for good. Some have had notable experience of this and could put their Amen to every word of this Psalm.