Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 52

Why boastest thou? Verse 1 states the theme of the psalm: man’s sinful scheming is futile, for God’s goodness is constantly displayed in the protection of His children.

Nichol, F. D. (1978). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary : The Holy Bible with exegetical and expository comment. Commentary Reference Series (Ge 1:1). Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association.

Goodness. Heb. chesed, “divine love” (see Additional Note on Ps. 36). God’s goodness and mercy are constant. God. Heb. ’El, a title thought to designate God as a powerful one (see Vol. I, p. 171). God’s majesty is contrasted with the littleness of the mischief-maker. Continually. Literally, “all the day.”

Mischiefs. Verses 2–4 describe the talebearer. Doeg’s misleading report brought about the massacre of the priests (see 1 Sam. 22:9, 10, 18). Condemnation of the evil tongue is a common topic in Psalms (see Ps. 12:3; 55:9; 78:36; 109:2).

Selah. The occurrence of this term within a compressed thought (as also in v. 5) seems to indicate that it has no relation here to thought division (see p. 629).

Destroy thee. The reference is to the talebearer. The idea of complete destruction is emphasized by three additional verbal phrases: “shall take thee away,” “pluck thee out,” “root thee out.” Dwelling place. Literally, “tent.” Root thee out. As a tree is torn up from the roots and left to perish, in sharp contrast with the state of the righteous depicted in vs. 8, 9.

Shall see. See Ps. 37:34. Shall laugh. See on Ps. 2:4; cf. Rev. 18:20; 19:1–3.

Man. Heb. geber, “strong man”; employed here to heighten the contrast with his fall. His strength. Doeg’s fault sprang from his lack of dependence on God. Riches. Doubtless Saul rewarded Doeg for his unscrupulous activity in dealing deceitfully with David (see PP 659). Doeg may have been wealthy in his own right, and therefore prone to depend upon his wealth rather than upon God.

Green olive tree. Unlike the tyrant (see v. 5), David flourishes like a live tree, and bears fruit (see on Ps. 1:3; 92:12–14). I trust. Unlike Doeg, who trusted in his riches, David made God his confidence. Mercy of God. Apparently an allusion to the second half of v. 1.

Thou hast done it. David expresses his faith that his prayer has been answered (see Ps. 54:7): he has been delivered from Doeg’s treachery. Wait on thy name. See Ps. 25:3, 5; 27:14. David expresses absolute trust in God and dependence on Him. Saints. Heb. chasidim (see Additional Note on Ps. 36). For the great mercy shown him in this affair, David vows to offer public praise (see Ps. 22:25; 35:18). The testimony meeting has a place of real value among God’s “saints” of the last days.