Psalm 52

 Psalm 52

This psalm is a reflection on one of the most barbaric events in the history of the kingdom of Israel.  If you are not familiar with the story, take a moment to read 1 Samuel 22.  We can’t say for certain if this Psalm is a rebuke of Saul or Doeg, but that doesn’t really matter; the principles apply to both.  

Verses 1-4 are descriptive of the depth of evil.  Note in v 2 is the reference to a sharp razor.  The one welding the razor is a trusted barber.  The image here is that of betrayal; expecting to have a shave, the victim has his throat cut.  This is an apt description of how wicked evil people are.

Verses 5-7 are descriptive of the destruction of the evil and the reaction of the righteous to their ruin.  God’s justice is perfect, complete, just, and devastating.  Far better than anything humans could accomplish, that is one reason it is commanded that we leave it to God to repay.  But there is an important point in this section about motivation.  Why such evil?  The evil one made wealth his security; anything that threatened his wealth was a threat to his very being (v. 7).  Their ruin is both an occasion for the righteous to fear God and rejoice in His judgment.  Should we laugh at the ruin of the wicked (v. 6), or is laughter an irresistible result of witnessing the ruin of the evil?  

“Lord, bring Your righteous and just judgment against all evil, including the evil of my own heart. AMEN.”