For the music director; a well-written song by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul: “David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech.”
David wrote this song for the Levitical music director. Doeg the Edomite was the lead-shepherd of King Saul. The Edomites were descendants of Esau. Esau was the older twin brother of Jacob. Esau did not desire a relationship with God, so he traded in the messianic birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew.
Ahimelech was a descendant of Eli. Eli was the High Priest of Israel before Samuel, but Eli did not train his sons in the way of the Lord. Therefore, his line was cursed to die out by violent death. Ahimelech was the High Priest of Israel during the time of King Saul.
King Saul believed that David was a threat to his monarchy, so he attempted to kill him. David and his men fled and hid out in the wilderness. David and his men were hungry, so they asked for food from Ahimelech the High Priest. Ahimelech gave them the shewbread of the Tabernacle to eat. Saul found out and ordered Ahimelech and his family to be executed. None of Saul’s guards would execute the High Priest of Israel, so Saul asked Doeg the Edomite to perform the execution. Doeg happily executed the High Priest, because he was an Edomite who did not honor the messianic genealogy of the Levites through Jacob. David wrote this song to teach about the treachery of Doeg.
52:1 Why do you boast about your evil plans, O powerful man? God’s loyal love protects me all day long!
Doeg boasted to others about his plan to execute the High Priest of Israel. David was protected by God’s loyal love. God promised David that one day he would be king. Therefore, David was immortal until this prophecy was fulfilled.
52:2 Your tongue carries out your destructive plans; it is as effective as a sharp razor, O deceiver.
Doeg used his razor-sharp tongue to execute the High Priest of Israel.
52:3 You love evil more than good, lies more than speaking the truth. (Selah)
Doeg loved evil more than good. He spoke lies rather than truth. David asked Doeg to meditate and think about his evil actions.
52:4 You love to use all the words that destroy, and the tongue that deceives.
Doeg used his words to destroy members of God’s family.
52:5 Yet God will make you a permanent heap of ruins. He will scoop you up and remove you from your home; he will uproot you from the land of the living. (Selah)
God will remove Doeg from the land of the living. David asked Doeg to meditate and think about his situation.
52:6 When the godly see this, they will be filled with awe, and will mock the evildoer, saying: 52:7 “Look, here is the man who would not make God his protector! He trusted in his great wealth and was confident about his plans to destroy others.”
Doeg will become an example to the godly-believing Jewish remnant. They will be filled with amazement over Doeg’s destruction. Doeg refused to make God his protector. Instead, he counted on his wealth to save him. He used his wealth to destroy others. Therefore, God removed him from the land of the living.
52:8 But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I continually trust in God’s loyal love.
David was like a beautiful olive tree in the house of God. Although he was not yet the King of Israel, he was growing and flourishing in power. David was continually trusting in God’s love to save him from his enemies.
52:9 I will continually thank you when you execute judgment; I will rely on you, for your loyal followers know you are good.
After God removes Doeg from this earth, then David will personally thank him. If an evil man will never turn to Jehovah, then God will remove this evil person from the earth and send him to hell.