Jan 14 - Psalm 52:4

You love to say things

that harm others ...

Psalm 52:4

Psalm 52 is about a bad dude. A character who rebels against God. An enemy who stabs God's people in the back. A cad who hurts individuals.

You can read the annotation at the beginning of the Psalm to figure out who and when ... but that won't be my point.

I want to simply focus on the fact that there will always be rebels (against God), enemies (set on undermining God's people), and scoundrels (hurting other people). This is real life in a really sinful world.

Psalm 52 certainly expresses sadness and frustration at the force of sin ... but it has nothing close to a defeated worldview.

This Psalm reminds us not to look, however, at the short term frustrations and defeats. It reminds us to take a longer-term view. The Psalmist says, "7 Look what happens to ______ who do not trust in God." The best they can hope for is to "7 grow more and more bold in their wickedness."

That's the ultimate trajectory of sinfulness. We will joyfully justify our actions and the world might even celebrate them, but sin is like termites. Before we ever notice it, it eats the solid framing away from our life. Our "house" may look good from the outside, but beneath the obvious, we're a mess that's awaiting an eventual and inevitable collapse. Yes, the path of selfishness and sin may occasionally reap a few rewards -- including "wealth," also mentioned verse 7 -- but any gain is temporary.

Verse 8 offers a better -- and much more permanent alternative. "But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God." Rather than termite weakened, the wood of righteousness is supple and growing, like a young olive tree. Young trees and righteous lives are fruitful too, and the harvest, like plentiful olives, is an abundance of peace and joy.

And this righteousness is the opposite of temporary. The Psalmist talks joyfully about "8 God's unfailing love [enduring] forever and ever."

"8 I trust [in that]," says the Psalmist. Which is how a faithful heart puts the breaks on selfish and short-term sin. When we trust in God and the fruits of righteousness, we will wait for the eternal blessings.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who does verse 8 (trusts)

and, therefore, joyfully does verse 9 too:

"I will praise you forever, O God,

for what you have done.

I will wait for your mercies

in the presence of your people."