PSALMS
BOOK 2
Lesson Six
PSALM 52:1-9
52:1 The End of the Wicked and the Peace of the Godly
To the Chief Musician - A Contemplation of David whenDoeg the Edomitewent and told Saul, and said tohim, "David has gone to the house of Abimelech."
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. NKJV
Psalm 52:1-9INSTRUCTION AS TO THE DEFEAT OF ENEMIES
A. Psalms 52:1-5 The enemies apostrophized(Doeg the Edomite)
C. Psalms 52:6 The righteous ones (Plural = Israel)
A.Psalms 52:7 The enemies apostrophized(Doeg the Edomite)
C. Psalms 52:8,9The righteous one (Singular = David)
Note: Remember that the numbers are only reference points and not important (you can use B, D, etc).
Title. Maschil = Instruction. The fifth of thirteen so named.
PSALMS 52: An atypical psalm, addressed not to God, but to a particular “brave fellow” (verse 3 “Why do you boast of your evil, brave fellow?”).
52:2: Given the tendency to identify psalms with events in David’s life as recorded in Samuel, it is logical to equate the treacherous brave fellow of the psalm with Doeg the Edomite (see 1 Samuel 22:9-11).
52:3-5: The emphasis is on damaging speech (see 10:7).
52:7: This sets up two contrasts with verse 10:
- The wicked will be removed from his tent,The wicked
- While the righteous will live “in God’s house;The righteous
- And the wicked will be rooted out,The wicked
- While the righteous psalmist is “like a thriving olive tree.”The righteous
52:8: The Hebrew is punning; the righteous see (“veyira’u”) and isawestruck (“veyira’u”).
BOOK TWO SECTION SIX
52:10-11: The psalmist will express God’s faithfulness (“hesed”) in the presence of…faithful ones (“hasid”).
52:10: Olive trees were of great significance for the oil they produced, which was used in the Temple. It is uncertain if the psalmist is a religious official in the Temple (God’s house), or is a lay Israelite who wants to enjoy God’s proximity at the Temple (see Psalms 23:6). Jewish Study Bible
Psalms 52:1-5
The title is a brief account of the story that the psalm refers to. David now, at length, saw it necessary to quit the court, and shift for his own safety, for fear of Saul, who had once and again attempted to murder him. Being unprovided with arms and victuals, he, by a wile, got Abimelech the priest to furnish him with both.
Doeg an Edomite happened to be there, and he went and informed Saul against Abimelech, representing him as confederate with a traitor, upon, which accusation Saul grounded a very bloody warrant, to kill all the priests; and Doeg, the prosecutor, was the executioner, 1 Samuel 22:9, etc. (From Matthew Henry's Commentary)
Psalms 52:1-4
Verse 1-4. The Character of the Opponent
Thou lovest evil. This denunciation is directed toward an arrogant tyrant whose tongue seems to be his weapon. His greed, treachery, and falsehood all stem from this razor-like tongue. (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)
‘Why boasts…? Relating to Doeg’s treachery. (52:1).
‘Mighty man.’ Hebrew word here is gibbor. = Tyrant; Septuagint = mighty lawless one. It is prophetic, and a type of Antichrist. (52:1).
‘Selah.’ Connecting the deceitful tongue of Doeg (v. 4) withthe imprecation on it. (52:3).
Psalms 52:1-4
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.Interlude 4you love to say things that harm others,you liar!
NLT
“Why do you boast of your evil, brave fellow? God’s faithfulness [never ceases literally “is all the day.”]. Your tongue devises mischief, like a sharpened razor that works treacherously. You prefer evil to good, the lie, to speaking truthfully. Selah. Tanakh Text Ps. 52:1-5
I thought that you might like to see these verses in our modern language.Paul the Learner
Psalms 52:5-7
The Retribution of God
God shall likewise destroy thee. This is the pronouncement of the psalmist, still directed toward the arrogant tyrant. The destruction is described in verse 5 in three stages - God will (snatch,tear away), and (uproot) (RSV). Although these verbs are rendered as a prayer in the LXX (May God destroy, etc.), the future usage seems better, since the psalmist is certain that the righteous will observe this destruction.
(Wycliffe Bible Commentary)
‘Destroy…take away…pluck out…root out.’ Note the figure of speech, Anabasis, or Gradual Ascent. An increase of emphasis or sense in successive sentences. (52:5).
BOOK TWO SECTION SIX
‘Selah.’ Connecting God’s judgmentwiththe righteous onlookers. (52:5).
‘That made not God his strength.’ The Gematria (adding up the letters found in this statement) of this sentence = 2,197 (=13 to the 3rd power). The Jews use their alphabet for numbers also. (52:7).
Thirteen. Denotes rebellion, apostasy, defection, disintegration, revolution, &c. The first occurrence fixes this (Genesis 14:4); and the second confirms it (Genesis 17:25). It and its multiples are seen in all numbers, and in the Gematria of all names and passages that are associated with rebellion. See Psalms 52.Paul the Learner
Psalms 52:8-9
The Trust of the Psalmist
I trust in the mercy of God. While the tyrant trusts in his riches, the psalmist has the stability of absolute trust in God. The green olive tree may have stood in the temple courtyard, or the psalmist may be emphasizing his strength in the Lord with two figures - like a green olive tree and in the house of God.
(Wycliffe Bible Commentary)
PSALM 53:1-6
53:1 Folly of the Godless, and the Restoration of Israel (Psalms 14)
To the Chief Musician - Set to "Megalith." -A Contemplation of David
The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there is any who understand, who seek God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, No, not one. 4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? 5 There they are in great fear where no fear was, For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; You have put them to shame, Because God has despised them. 6Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoices and Israel is glad. To the chief Musician onNeginoth NKJV
PSALM 53:1-6INSTRUCTIONS AS TO DEFEAT OF ENEMIES
M. Psalms 53:1- The foolGod no-where
P. Psalms 53:-1 Man Depravity
H. Psalms 53:2 GodInspection
P. Psalms 53:3 Man Depravity
H. Psalms 53:4 GodExpostulation
M. Psalms 53:5, 6 The righteousGod now-here.
A partial repetition of Psalms 14, which was not for public use (as Psalms 53 was); therefore Jehovah (David’s God) there, and Elohim (the creature’s Creator) here.
‘God.’ (53:1) Hebrew Elohim. Seven times in this Psalm. In Psalm 14 three times Elohim, and four timesJehovah.Elohim more characteristic of the second (or Exodus) book.
‘God.’ (53:2) Hebrew ‘eth ‘Elohim (Objective). Note the figure of speech, Epanadiplosis, by which this verse is marked off as containing universal instruction, beginning and ending with the same word “God.”
Psalms 53: This is the Elohistic Psalter’s (see introduction to Psalms 42) version of Psalms 14; see annotations there. Jewish Study Bible
BOOK TWO SECTION SIX
“The benighted man thinks, [“God does not care.” Literally “There is no God;” cf. Psalms 10:4]. Man’s wrongdoing is corrupt and loathsome; no one does good. God looks down from heaven on mankind to find a man of understanding, a man mindful of God. Everyone is dross, altogether foul; there is none who does good, not even one. Are they so witless, those evildoers, who devour my people as they devour food, and do not invoke God? There they will be seized with fright – [never was there such a fright – for God has scattered the bones of your besiegers; you have put them to shame, meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain], for God has rejected them. O that the deliverance of Israel might come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of His people, Jacob will exult, Israel will rejoice.” Tanakh Hebrew Text Psalms 53:1-7
Psalms 53:1
This psalm is actually another version of Psalms 14. The only significant change is that the content of 14:5-6 is here strengthened and compressed into one verse. It is possible that both of these psalms are adapted versions of an original poem. However, 53 may be simply a version of 14, adapted for some historical crisis. (For outline and comments, see on Psalms 14.)
‘Oh.’ Figure of speech, Ecphonesis; or Exclamation (ref. Romans 7:24). An outburst of words, prompted by emotion.
Romans 7:24
24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?KJV
‘Jacob…Israel:’ i.e. both natural andspiritual seed.
‘Neginoth.’ See Introduction on words. This referring to God’s Smitings with words and acts. See v. 5 that differ from Psalms 14:5,6.
Psalms 53:2
(a)In both recensions of the Psalm the name of God occurs seven times.
(b)In Psalms 14 it reads three times Elohim and four times Jahve [Jehovah]; in the Psalm before us it is all seven times Elohim, which in this instance is a proper name of equal dignity with the name Jahve.
(c)Since the mingling of the two names in Psalms 14 is perfectly intentional, inasmuch as Elohim in vv. 1, 2c describes God as a Being most highly exalted and to bereverentially acknowledged,
(d)And in v. 5 as the Being who is present among men in the righteous generation andwho is mighty in their weakness,
(e)It becomes clear that David himself cannot be the author of this leveling change, which is carried out more rigidly than the Elohimic character of the Psalm really demands.
Psalms 53:5
(1)The last two lines of this tristich are in letters so similar to the two distichs of Psalms14 that they look like an attempt at the restoration of some faded manuscript.
(2)Nevertheless, such a close following of the sound of the letters of the original, and such a changing of the same by means of an interchange of letters,
(3)Is also to be found elsewhere (more especially in Jeremiah, and e.g., also in the relation of the Second Epistle of Peter to Jude).
(4)And the two lines sound so complete in themselves and full of life, that this way of accounting for their origin takes too low an estimate of them.
(5)A later poet, perhaps belonging to the time of Jehoshaphat or Hezekiah, has here adapted the Davidic Psalm to some terrible catastrophe that has just taken place, and given a special character to the universal announcement of judgment.
BOOK TWO SECTION SIX
53:5
The addition of paachad lo'-haayaah (supply 'asher (OT:834) = shaam (OT:8033) 'asher (OT:834), 84:4) is meant to imply that fear of judgment had seized upon the enemies of the people of God, when no fear, i.e., no outward ground for fear, existed; it was therefore 'lhym cherªdat (1 Samuel 14:15), a God-wrought panic.
Such as the case with the host of the confederates in the days of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:22-24), such also with the army of Sennacherib before Jerusalem (Isaiah 37:36). Kiy (OT:3588forasmuch, inasmuch) gives the proof in support of this fright from the working of the divine power.
The words are addressed to the people of God: Elohim hath scattered the bones (so that unburied they lay like dirt upon the plain a prey to wild beasts, Psalms 141:7; Ezekiel 6:5) of thy besieger, i.e., of him who had encamped against thee.
By the might of his God, who has overthrown them, the enemies of His people, Israel has put them to shame, i.e., brought to naught in a way most shameful to them, the project of those who were so sure of victory, who imagined they could devour Israel as easily and comfortably as bread.
It is clear that in this connection even v. 5 receives a reference to the foreign foes of Israel originally alien to the Psalm, so that consequently Micah 3:3 is no longer a parallel passage, but passages like Numbers 14:9, our bread are they (the inhabitants of Canaan); and Jeremiah 30:16, all they that devour thee shall be devoured.
(From Keil & Delitzsch Commentaryon the Old Testament)
Psalms 54:1-7
54:1 Answered Prayer for Deliverance from Adversaries -To the Chief Musician - With stringedinstruments.
A Contemplation of David when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, "Is David not hiding with us?" Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength. 2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life; they have not set God before them. Selah
4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. 5 He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth. 6 I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good. 7 For He has delivered me out of all trouble; and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.NKJV
PSALM 54:1-7INSTRUCTION AS TO THE DEFEAT OF ENEMIES
G. Psalms 54:1,2 Prayer
H. Psalms 54:3 ReasonEnemies assemble
I. Psalms 54:4 Jehovah my helper
I. Psalms 54:5 Jehovah my helper
G. Psalms 54:6 Praise
H. Psalms 54:7 ReasonEnemies scattered
Title. Maschil= Instruction.
54:3Strangers = aliens: the Ziphites, or the men of Keilah (1 Samuel 23:12).
BOOK TWO SECTION SIX
1 Samuel 23:11-12
11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servants. And the LORD saidHe will come down.12 Then said David; will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, they will deliver thee up.KJV
‘Selah.’ Connecting David’s dangerwithDavid’s true and only source of help.
Psalms 54: A typical individual petition. It is stylistically simplistic, with standard parallelisms.
54:2: The psalm is secondarily connected to 1 Samuel 23:15-20; this is thematically appropriate, though not compelling.
54:3-5: The petition, with an invocation (O God), four imperatives expressing the urgent request of the supplicant, and a motivation (For strangers…).
54:3: On God’s name, (see 48:11)
54:6-9: As in other such prayers, the tense and tone change, reflecting the psalmist’s certainty of salvation (see Psalms 6:9-11)
54:8: For the details of the freewill sacrifice, see Leviticus 22:18; Numbers 15:1-16. Jewish Study Bible
Psalms 54:1-3
Though this is the appeal of a troubled man, in the characteristic form of an individual lament, the language and content are so general as to make it adaptable for the needs of any who are oppressed by godless men.
Verse 1-3. Prayer in a Perilous Situation
Save me, O God. This appeal for help is based upon God's revealed character (his name) and his revealed power (his strength). The adversaries are called strangers (zarim) according to the Massoretic Text, while certain manuscripts designate them as proud or insolent men (zadim).
Psalms 86:14 seems to quote verse 3 of this psalm, using the latter spelling. The most important characteristic of these men, however, is their utter disregard of God.
Psalms 54:4-7
Praise for an Assured Deliverance. I will praise ... for he hath delivered. Since the psalmist has completeconfidence in God as his helper, he is sure that God will give suitable punishment to his enemies. His certainty is such that he can vow to give a freewill offering and promise to praise the name of Jehovah.
(The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)
Is it any wonder, that David was a man after God’s own heart? Living faith will always succeed with God.
Paul the Learner
Psalms 54:4-7
Come very near to this usage. The praeterites mention the ground of the thanksgiving. What David now still hopes for will then lie behind him in the past: