A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 52
PSAL. LII. To the chief Musician, Maschil. A Psalme of David: when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul▪ and said unto him, David is come to the house of Abimclech.
THe scope of the Psalmist is, to shew that Doeg his enemy had no reason to glory in the favour of the Court, purchased by his false and cruel calumnies against him and the Lords Priests▪ which he proveth by four reasons: First, because Gods kindnesse could not be taken away by Doegs cruel calumnies, v. 1. Secondly, because God s…ould …oot our Doeg out of the world for his wicked calumnies, ver. 2, 3, 4, 5. Thirdly, because Doeg should be made a laughing-stock and matter of derision to the godly, ver. 6. 7. Fourthly, because ma… his malice, David should be blessed as a believer in God, and a true worshipper of him, ver. 8. Whereupon he concludeth with praise to God, ver. 9.
From the Inscription, Learn, 1. It is no new policy of wicked men, to seek to be great in Court, and in the favour of Princes, by maligning the godly, and fostering the displeasure of Princes against them, for D…eg of old did climbe in Court this way. 2. Such practices are most suitable to false brethren: for this Doeg is an Edomite of the posterity of Es…. 3. When the w…ked come to be in power and credit with Kings, for their very enmity against Gods people, it is a narrow trial, and a sore tentation to the godly, as here in Davids case with Doeg is to be seIn. 4. In this case there is nothing so needful as to go to God for direction and consolation; for so David did, and came back with a Maschil, or P…alme for instruction to himself and others. 5. It is no advantage to a claw back Calu…niator, to pretend that he told nothing but truth, and said no more then what he saw: for it is true, that David came to the house of Abimelech, but the telling of this to Saul, imported much mischief upon the matter, even all the evil which fell forth, and all this is laid on Doeg presupposing he had said no more then is expressed here, that is, that he told Saul, David is come to the house of Abimelech.
Ver. 1. Why boast est thou thy selfe in mischief, O mighty man? the goodnesse of God endureth continually.
David chargeth Doeg with the vanity of his gloriation, that he was now made so mighty a man, for his ill service done against the Lords servants, and re…uteth his folly, because he would not take the kindnesse of God from the godly so easily as he might steal their good estimation from them among men. Whence learn, 1. Prosperity and successe following upon a wicked cour…, d…th hide the sin and mischief which is in it from the sin…, as we see here, how the favour which foolish Doeg found a… Court for his calumniating David and the Lords Priests, did puss… him up. 2. There is small reason for a wicked man to glory in his wickednesse, whatsoever profit or preferment it doth bring unto him, for after examination he will not be able to give a reason of his vain boasting; Why boastest thou thy self of thy mischief, O thou mighty man? 3. Albeit the wicked do think that God forgetteth his simple and silly servants, yet it is not so; and albeit the Lord doth alter the exercise of the godly, and changeth their prosperity into adversity, yet he changeth not his affection to them, this remaineth fast for ever, whatsoever seem to the carnal spectator, of the Lords dealing with his people; The goodnesse of God endureth continually. 2. So long as Gods unchangeable kindnesse endureth, the wicked have no cause to insult over the godly, nor have the godly cause to faint or be discouraged; for this goodnesse of God David doth oppose, both to Doegs boasting, and to his own tentation; The …indnesse of the Lord endureth for ever.
Ver. 2. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs: like a sharp r…sour working deceitfully.
3. Thou lovest evil more then good and lying rather then to speak righteousnesse. Selah.
4. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
The next Argument of refuting Doegs folly, is, because this cruel calumny should bring Gods vengeance on Doeg, and root him out from all felicity; and here he first sets down his ditty in these three verses, before he sets down his doom, ver. 5. Whence learn, 1. The tongue when it is abused, is a world of wickednesse, setting the world on fire, as it self is set on fire from hell by Satan: for whatsoever mischief the devil can suggest, or a wicked heart can devise, the tongue will serve to vent it; therefore is the tongue charged with devising of mischief: Thy tongue deviseth mischief. 2. The smooth convey of a wicked device doth not hide the mischief of it from Gods sight, nor extenuate the mans fault, but rather doth help on the mischief more cunningly and powerfully: like a sharp rasour working de…itfully. 3. When a man speaketh no more of a tale of his neighbour, but what may serve to the mans hurt and prejudice, and keepeth up the relation of that part of the tale which might clear the mans innocency, or might give a right construction of his doing, albeit that part of the tale told be true, if all the rest of the tale had been told with it, yet being told alone as if it were the full history, it is evil, it is false lying. It is a murthering and devouring speech, and full of deceit; and doth argue the Speaker such a one as Doeg was, in the particular at least, to whom David saith; Thou lovest evil more then good, and lying rather then to speak righteousnesse; Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. 4. The more wit, deliberation and affection is in a sin: the heavier is the guilt, and challenge for it more just. Doegs devising mischief, Doegs chusing evil, and not good; chusing lying, and not righteousnesse; loving these evil and all-devouring words, maketh his ditty most fearful.
5. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. …ah.
Now followeth his doom; Whence learn, 1. As any wicked man is instrumental for bringing temporal destruction on the godly, so is he instrumental in drawing everlasting destruction upon himself from Gods hand, God shall likewise destroy thee for ever. 2. He that seeketh to settle himself, to inlarge himself, to root himself in the earth, and to prolong his standing in the world, by wrong means, and in special, by hurting the godly, and their good name and cause, shall finde the event quite contrary to his desire, designe and expectation, as Doeg did, whose doom was destruction, for his evil offices done at Court against David …nd the Lords Ministers God shall take thee away and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living.
Ver. 6. The righteous also shall see and feare, and shall laugh at him.
7. Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickednesse.
The third Argument of ref…tation of Doegs vain-boasting, is, that his wisdome should be seen to be ridiculous folly; and his b…asting to be the matter of his shame and disgrace. Whence learn, 1. The notable enemies of Gods children and servants may expect to be notably punished, and that they who did see their sin, shall see also Gods vengeance on them: The righteous shall see it. 2. As the godly are the only wise observers of Gods work, and dispensation of his mercy and justice: so also are they the only persons that do make spiritual advantage thereby: The righteous shall see it and fear. 3. As the good of godlinesse is seen and felt by the godly in their own experience of Gods blessing upon themselves, so is it seen and observed also in the contrary evils which befal the ungodly; Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, (say they) but trusted in the abundance of his ri…hes, and strengthened himself in his wickednesse.
Ver. 8. But I am like a green Olive-tree in the house of God, I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
The fourth Argument for refutation of Doegs foolish boasting, is because, I, saith David, shall flourish in Gods favour, in despite of Doeg; Whence learn, 1. Whatsoever may befall … godly by the malice of their enemies, it shall not hinder their felicity, when their enemies are running to their own destruction, it shall be well with the godly, they may be perswaded of it, for the Psalmists example doth encourage to it: But I am like a green Olive-tree. 2 As the Olive-tree, being planted in a fertile ground, draweth in moisture, whereby it is nourished and groweth up: so doth the beleever, being planted in the Church, draw spirit and life trom God by the holy ordinances, whereby he groweth up: I am like a green Olive-tree in the house of God. 3. The wisdom of the godly, and the ground of their true blessednesse is this, they make fast work of their everlasting felicity by saith in God, and this maketh them like green Olives all the dayes of their life; for I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever, is given here for a reason of his happy growing in the house of God.
Ver. 9. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy Name, for it is good before thy Saints.
He closeth the Psalm comfort…bly, with resoluti…n to praise God, and to depend upon him. Whence learn, 1. Victory over tentations obtained by saith, i… very glori…us, for saith doth make a man as sure of what is to come, as if it were perfected, and filleth him with praise for the certain hope of the performance of Promises; I will prais… thee for ever (saith David.) because thou hast done it. 2. …ith being soli…ly fixed, bringeth forth hope and quiet expectation of what is promised, I will wait o… thy Name. 3. As the Christian patience of one of the Saints, is a matter of g…od example, and great encouragement unto all the rest that behold it: …o the consideration of the good which may redound to others, who shall be witnesses of our patient atten…ing upon God, should sti…e us up to this duty of patient hope in God, I will wait on thee, for it is good before thy Saints.