Psalm 52

Look for the name Ahimelech.

The notation at the beginning of today's Psalm reads: "1 A psalm of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite told Saul that Ahimelech had given refuge to David," and 1 Samuel 22 tells the story of Ahimelech, a devoted priest of God who gave David food (and the sword of Goliath). David was King Saul's chief bodyguard. Therefore, it was natural to care for the king's chief soldier.

What Ahimelech didn't know, however, was the murderous rage of King Saul. Once the Lord God Almighty had been with Saul, but when Saul began to claim personal credit for God's victories, God shifted his hand of anointing from an arrogant king to a humble shepherd. Not knowing of Saul's rage, Ahimelech wasn't being rebellious to the lower case king; rather, he was being loyal to his upper-case King. After all, it was clear to Ahimelech that hand of God was with David.

And then the gossip started. "1 Doeg the Edomite told Saul that Ahimelech had given refuge to David."

Enraged, Saul ordered Ahimelech's execution, and 1 Samuel 22 tells the sad story like this: "17 he ordered his bodyguards, 'Kill these priests of the LORD, for they are allies and conspirators with David! ...' But Saul's men refused to kill the LORD's priests. 18 Then the king said to Doeg, 'You do it.' So Doeg turned on them and killed them, eighty-five priests in all, all still wearing their priestly tunics."

That's what today's Psalm is all about.

Listen to the first refrains of this Psalm, and ask yourself -- is David speaking about Doeg or Saul? "1 You call yourself a hero, do you? Why boast about this crime of yours, you who have disgraced God's people? 2 All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you're an expert at telling lies. 3 You love evil more than good and lies more than truth."

Is David speaking about Doeg or Saul? Actually he could be talking about anyone whose "3 tongue cuts like a sharp razor ... 2 plot[s] destruction ... 3 [and/or] loves evil more than good and lies more than truth."

Fortunately, there's an alternative to plotting, cutting, and evil. David says, "9 I will praise you forever, O God." Indeed, the alternative is, "9 I will wait for your mercies in the presence of your people." Saul, of course, took matters into his own hands. He tried to control his own destiny. David allowed himself to be chased, chosing instead to patiently "wait for [God's] mercies."

My favorite line in 1 Samuel 22 has nothing to do with Doeg the Edomite but everything to do with waiting for God's mercies. A fleeing David arranged for safety for his parents in the home of the king of Moab, saying, "3 Would you let my father and mother live here under royal protection until I know what God is going to do for me?"

I love that!

Instead of taking matters into our own hands, how many of us need to wait for God's mercies "until [we] know what God is going to do for us?"

Gracious Lord,
rather than taking so many matters
into my own hands
and trading convenient, sweet-sounding lies
for your truths,
I covenant today to wait more for you.
I want to be like the olive tree
that David talked about in verse 8,
"thriving in the house of God
[and] trust[ing] in [your] unfailing love
forever and ever."