Psalm 52:1-9 NKJV
52 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.
For context, read also I Sam 22 which gives the reader the situation about which David speaks in this psalm.
In Reading the Psalms with Luther, Luther says this: “The 52nd psalm is a psalm of comfort. As the title shows, it speaks of Doeg, who betrayed David and shed much innocent blood. He was a traitor and bloodthirsty dog, who slandered those who hope in God’s Word. He revealed God’s servants and incited kings and princes and shed innocent blood” (p. 126).
This is a great psalm to pray – or better yet, sing – when you, dear Christian know you have been wronged, betrayed, and/or slandered. The sinful nature in all of us seems all too often to want to focus on the negative, and to seek revenge against those who have done you wrong. You want swift retribution, and you call out to God as if He needs to be informed about what is going on. When that happens, repent: repent of not trusting the God who made you and who has promised never to leave you nor forsake you, the same God who is omniscient, who knows all things and allows events to happen for your good and so that you turn to Him and trust only in His mercy.
Again, Luther: “Despite such malevolent people, this psalm brings comfort. It announces [the wicked’s] reward, that they shall be removed from body, goods, house, and land. But the godly shall remain and retain God’s house and His Word” (p. 127).
Pray this psalm; stick God’s Words back into His ears and take comfort that the wicked of this world will receive their due, for God Himself has promised it. Thank God for giving you faith through His Gospel and for strengthening you through His sacramental gifts so that you can indeed wait patiently on Him and bask in His love demonstrated by giving His Son Jesus into death to pay for your sins.
Let us pray: Thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father, for Your sure and certain promises. Grant me Your grace each day to trust in You alone; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.