We read from Psalm 52: 1 Why do you boast, O mighty one, of mischief done against the godly? All day long 2 you are plotting destruction. Your tongue is like a sharp razor, you worker of treachery. 3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking the truth. (Selah) 4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. 5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. (Selah) 6 The righteous will see, and fear, and will laugh at the evildoer, saying, 7 "See the one who would not take refuge in God, but trusted in abundant riches, and sought refuge in wealth!" 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. 9 I will thank you forever, because of what you have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim your name, for it is good.
At first reading, this psalm is disturbing. You wonder, who is the "mighty one" and what mischief has he done? To the commentary. As we read an account of David's life in 1 Samuel 22, we find the story of Saul's hatred to David expressed through his followers. Doeg was one such follower, a commander of Saul's army who killed 85 of the Lord's priests because they had helped David. It was when David heard of this slaughter that he wrote this psalm. He spares no words to describe how evil this man was and the anger that David feels towards him. His motivation was money and Saul spared nothing in giving Doeg a lot of money for obeying him. David's anger is fueled by that knowledge as well. He said, like many of us do, Your day is coming.
But David knows that he should stay faithful to the One in Whom he believes. Verse 8 is a key verse for many, "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever." David's faith was not easily shaken by the actions taken by Saul and his followers. They revealed their hearts in doing things that were wicked in the eyes of God, but it did not faze them. We sometimes see that and we're tempted to do either things against those or to do the same thing; David knew that we should stay faithful in our beliefs and not drop down to their level. "You may be rich, but you're evil; and the day is coming when you will pay for your evil deeds and you will lose all your money." David chooses to thank God not only as he writes, but "forever, because of what You have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim Your name, for it is good."
This psalm calls us to take stock of where and who we are. It is an invitation to come back to, or stay with, God. It is a call to reaffirm our faith and to share our faith; for there are many who wonder why about so many things, and this speaks to the good we find in thanking God in all things, no matter the circumstances.
PRAYER: Loving God, as I start this day, I thank You for all that You have shared with me. I thank You for allowing me to believe in You and I pray that I not shy away from chances to share with others that faith and love You have shared with me. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
