“THE PSALMIST’S DESCRIPTION OF A TREACHEROUS MAN”PSALM 52:1-9

This psalm may be classified as a Maschil or instructional psalm. In fact, the superscription of this magnificent psalm reads: “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.” The treacherous man of this psalm is Doeg, an Edomite, who betrayed David. There are those who pretend to be your friend, yet they are really against you.

David, a great leader, was often exposed to danger; especially, being betrayed by one he trusted in like Ahithophel in Psalm 55:13-14. Doeg’s treachery is portrayed in II Samuel  21-22. David begins the psalm by describing the fact that the treacherous man brags about his evil. Although the treacherous man boasts about his mischievous behavior, the Lord’s goodness endures continually (v. 1). In addition to the treacherous man boasting of his mischievous conduct (vv. 2-4), he also uses words bent to destroy others as verses 2 and 3 state, “Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good, and lying rather than to speak righteousness.”

This man has a wicked lifestyle aimed at causing destruction to others. The destructive behavior of the treacherous man will be put in check because the Lord will uproot him from the earth as verse 5 warns, “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.” In other words, the Lord will bring about his death quickly forever. And because the Lord will put an end to their existence, there will be a cause for joy by the righteous (vv. 6- 7).

As believers, we know that the Lord is going to “mow” down the wicked, and we need not fret, for Psalm 37:1-2 states, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”

In comparison to Doeg, the treacherous man, David likens himself to a “green olive tree.” This description is a picture of prosperity and longevity. David indeed had a blessed state because of the Lord’s loyal love. Although David had been betrayed, he was going to praise the Lord and wait on Him (vv. 8-9). In the midst of all of our calamities in life, let us continue to trust in the Lord, for Psalm 57:1 states, “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”

May God Bless!