{"id":1157,"date":"2020-07-19T22:04:46","date_gmt":"2020-07-19T21:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=1157"},"modified":"2020-07-19T22:04:49","modified_gmt":"2020-07-19T21:04:49","slug":"the-uprooted-tree-and-the-flourishing-tree-psalm-52","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=1157","title":{"rendered":"The uprooted tree and the flourishing tree Psalm 52"},"content":{"rendered":"

We don\u2019t know for certain when the Psalms were written. Just half of the Psalms, like Psalm 52 are ascribed to David, and I take the traditional view that in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, David the shepherd and musician probably wrote them soon after 1000 BC. The titles or introductions at the beginning of most of the Psalms were probably added a long time after the individual Psalms were written. Most people believe that the collection of Psalms as we have them now was put together as late as after the return of the Exiles to Jerusalem in the period after the Second Temple was built, so roughly 500BC. But the context suggested in the title to Psalm 52 certainly fits with the content, so let\u2019s take a moment to look at that introduction.
\nFor the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: \u2018David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.\u2019
\nDoeg the Edomite was not a nice man. You may remember how David was anointed by Samuel to be King of Israel and then he defeated Goliath. But then the reigning King Saul tried repeatedly to kill his rival to the throne. So David went to the town of Nob and hid with Ahimelek the priest. That was when Ahimelek broke the rules and gave David and his men the consecrated bread to eat and he also gave him Goliath\u2019s sword which was kept there. It happened that one of Saul\u2019s servants, his chief shepherd Doeg the Edomite was also there and saw what happened. Doeg blabbed to Saul who sent for Ahimelek and all his family. Saul accused Ahimelek of conspiring against him with David but the priest defended David so Saul condemned his whole family to death. Saul\u2019s guards refused to murder the priests. But Doeg the Edomite had no such scruples and he murdered 85 priests. He then went on to massacre the whole town of Nob. Not only had he betrayed David \u2013 Doeg was also a mass murderer. But without doubt that made him very important and very rich in Saul\u2019s court. That is the backdrop suggested for this Psalm by David.
\nThe second thing to point out by way of introduction is that we don\u2019t often take much notice of the fact that the Psalms are songs or poetry. But we will tonight because it is significant. We talked about structures in Hebrew poetry when we talked about parables last year. We pointed to different parables, such as the Prodigal Son, where the order of events unfolds in a symmetrical pattern known as chiasmus. We have also mentioned that structure in the story of Noah and the Flood. Events at the beginning are mirrored by events at the end. The second section is mirrored by the second-to last section and so on. So the structure could be summed up as A B C B\u2019 A\u2019. In the middle of the poetry is the hinge or turning point, and the central location in the poem marks out the most important point in the whole piece. In the parable of the Prodigal Son that is when the son \u201ccame to his senses\u201d. In the Flood narrative the hinge is the wonderful phrase, \u201cBut God remembered Noah.\u201d We can see a similar chiastic structure in Psalm 52.
\nIt begins and ends with alternative things in which people find their security \u2013 in doing evil or in God.
\n1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?
\nWhy do you boast all day long,
\nyou who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?<\/p>\n

Some people live by the motto, \u201cthe end justifies the means\u201d. Doeg the Edomite achieved power through doing evil \u2013 by betrayal and murder. His title is ironic. He is only a \u201cmighty hero\u201d in his own eyes and in the eyes of other people who are also ignoring God. Doeg broke the sixth commandment \u2013 you shall not murder.
\nThen verse 7 recounts more of this evil man\u2019s sins.
\n7 \u2018Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold
\nbut trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!\u2019
\nRejecting God and looking to his wealth for security. Growing strong by destroying others.
\nIn contrast the writer looks to God for his eternal security.
\n8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;
\nI trust in God\u2019s unfailing love for ever and ever.
\n9 For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.
\nAnd I will hope in your name, for your name is good.
\nThe Psalm writer, let\u2019s assume it is David, puts his trust in God\u2019s unfailing love. God\u2019s steadfast love is the most important aspect of God\u2019s character revealed in his covenants with Abraham and with Israel and with David. The Hebrew word is HESED and it occurs 100 times in the Psalms. It speaks of God\u2019s unfailing loyalty and faithfulness. It is the attribute of God\u2019s character which guarantees the covenants and makes them strong and durable. It is because of God\u2019s steadfast love that the Psalm writers know that He will answer their prayers and rescue them in times of trouble. And they know that God\u2019s love will keep them safe not just in this life but forever more. So David continually praises God for his faithfulness and he puts his trust in God who is the source of his hope forever.
\nThe second motif which recurs before the end is use of the tongue, to destroy or to rejoice. The evil man is a liar and deceiver. Breaking not only the sixth commandment but the ninth as well.
\n2 You who practise deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.
\n3 You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
\n4 You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue!
\nEvil words often accompany evil actions. In fact sometimes evil people don\u2019t even need to do anything bad. Their words alone can do terrible damage to others. In contrast good people will not use words to harm others. They will simply declare the truth.
\n6 The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying,
\n7 \u2018Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold
\nCan you see the symmetrical structure? Beginning: security then the tongue. Ending: tongue then security. And right in the middle of the Psalm we find emphasised the most important point, the turning point: Divine action!
\n5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
\nhe will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent;
\nhe will uproot you from the land of the living.
\nThe evil person who murders and deceives and puts their trust in their wealth is forgetting one thing. They are forgetting God. They may be getting away with their sins for now, but in they end they will have to pay for them. The God of justice will bring judgment and the well-deserved punishment of everlasting ruin. The evil man will be like a tree uprooted from the land. The exact opposite is true of the righteous man who puts his trust in God.
\n8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;
\nThis Psalm teaches us where we can look to find true security. It inspires us to put our trust in God. But from the introduction it also tells us what we can do when other people let us down or hurt us as Doeg the Edomite hurt David. David did not pursue revenge. Nor did he call down curses. David simply pointed out that God would bring judgment on his enemies and put his trust in God\u2019 unfailing love. And we should do the same.
\nWhat somebody has upset us. Or let us down. When they have broken their promises. When they have said things which are spiteful or untrue? When they have done things which damage us physically or mentally or emotionally or spiritually? What do we do when somebody hurts us? We read this morning in
\nEphesians 4 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5 1 Follow God\u2019s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
\nGeorge Herbert wrote, \u201dHe that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven, for everyone has need to be forgiven.\u201d
\nIf life has disappointed us \u2013 if people have let us down \u2013 take it to God!
\nHave we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
\nWe should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer.
\nCan we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
\nJesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.
\nAre we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care?
\nPrecious Saviour, still our refuge, Take it to the Lord in prayer.
\nDo thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
\nIn His arms He\u2019ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.
\nGod longs to help us and heal us and give us his peace. If we are discouraged, even if we are suffering or persecuted, we should not give up! True hope in God WILL NOT disappoint us. His steadfasr love will never let us go. The wicked will ultimately be plucked from the land. But the righteous who put their trust and their hope in God will flourish into eternity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We don\u2019t know for certain when the Psalms were written. Just half of the Psalms, like Psalm 52 are ascribed to David, and I…<\/span><\/p>\n

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