But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. Psalm52:8
The Futility of Boastful Wickedness
Psalm 52, a psalm of lament, strongly emphasizes judgment of David’s enemies. The title of this psalm specifies the incident in David’s life that prompted him to write it. Doeg, an official of Saul, had spied on David when he fled to Ahimelech, the priest at Nob, for provisions and guidance (1 Sam. 21:7). Doeg’s report angered Saul so much that he destroyed the priestly family at Nob (1 Sam. 22). This incident must have been disheartening to David. His actions had caused the death of others, and his enemies were determined to destroy him.
Disturbed by this great evil, David reminds himself of the fate of the wicked and destiny of the godly. David finds comfort in comparing the certain destruction of the treacherous with the destiny of the godly.
52:5-7 God shall likewise destroy you forever: The poet uses the strongest terms to describe divine judgment on those who practice evil. Uproot you from the land of the living refers to death, but not eternal death. The righteous also shall see and fear: This fear is a deepened respect for God and a sense of awe before His throne. Here is the man: The righteous laugh at the wicked because of their foolishness. A reference to man often means man in his strength; but this “man” has no real strength at all. He seeks strength in himself instead of seeking the source of all strength, the Almighty.
God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous also shall see and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying, 7 “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 A green olive tree is a symbol of beauty. In Rom. 11, the olive tree is used as a symbol of the Gentiles who are grafted into the root, the people of God or the church. The Hebrew word for mercy is the same term, meaning “loyal love,” that is translated “goodness” in v. 1. The Hebrew word for praise is the same word sometimes translated “give thanks” (105:1); it typically refers to vocal and public praise.
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. 9 I will praise You forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.
⇒ Boastfulness is the characteristic of the wicked. It is like a grain of yeast that puffs up our whole being. When we see it in the wicked people, we should examine ourselves and carefully remove it so that we will not be counted as the wicked.
52 1 To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of David when Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul, and said to him, ‘David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.’ Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually. 2 Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah 4 You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue. 5 God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous also shall see and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying, 7 “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.” 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. 9 I will praise You forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.
