Psalm 52 Jan. 29 For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, David has come to Abimelech’s house.  1Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s grace endures continually. 2Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah. 4You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue. 5God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah. 6The righteous also will see it, and fear, and laugh at him, saying, 7Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. 8But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s grace forever and ever. 9I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it. I will hope in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints.   

Commentary

52:4 You deceitful tongue- David is addressing Doeg (see the Psalm title), but he speaks of Doeg as if Doeg is his tongue. We are identified with our words, they are us, just as God’s word is Him (Jn. 1:3). We can’t therefore excuse ourselves from bad speaking by reasoning that in our hearts we are not like that. Our words reflect us, and therefore by them we will be condemned or justified in the last judgment (Mt. 12:37).
52:8 I am like a green olive tree in God’s house- But David at this time was on the run from Saul in the wilderness, and was not calmly sitting in the tabernacle; nor was he physically “in the presence of Your saints” (:9). And yet within his own heart, David felt identified with God’s people and in His presence. This is a comfort for those who may be isolated from church life and from other believers; we can really be there in spirit, as David was in his wilderness years.