You’re a bunch of half-witted fools believing what you want to believe with no evidence to back it.”
–William MacLeod Raine (Rustler’s Gap)
“You who hate good and love evil; Who strip the skin from My people, And the flesh from their bones… Then they will cry to the Lord, But He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, Because they have been evil in their deeds.”
–Micah 3:2,4 (NKJV)
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Solomon declares that there is nothing new under the sun. When I read this Psalm (52) I tend to agree with him, for we see it unfolding in front of our eyes. It is a time when David was running from Saul and the priests had fed him and some of his men. A herdsman, Doeg by name, reported it to Saul and Saul ordered him to kill the priests and all the other priests living in the city of Nob. It seems that Doeg went about his job gladly.
1 – Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually.
2 – Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3 – You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah
4 – You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue.
5 – God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 – The righteous also shall see and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying,
7 – “Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
8 – But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
9 – I will praise You forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good. (NKJV)
The first part of this Psalm indicates that this person (people) boast in their evil. There is no shame, but haughtiness and mockery accompanied by a sneer. Two things are clear: this person was deceitful, full of lies. There was no remorse but glee in what they were doing. Their actions were calculated and intentional; they had their victims in mind and took joy in their actions against them. Second, these people had upside-down values. Anyone in the path of their rise and agenda is quickly and mercilessly destroyed. “They gain advantage through misrepresentation–direct and indirect lying.” (George O. Wood)
Here we see another warning, no rather a declaration from God. Isaiah warned, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil…” (5:21, NKJV) now David is saying to these people who love evil more than good that He “shall likewise destroy you forever…” (vs 5) They will be uprooted, but the believer is rooted; he is like a “tree planted by streams of water” (Psalm 1:3).
Those who seek unlawful gain and cheat to get ahead in life do so without eternal views. They mock God, thinking that they will not stand before Him in eternal judgment. There’s a great, yet sad day coming. That day is drawing near. Friend, do not forsake the truth of God’s Word. And you can be sure that God is not mocked.
In the midst of all that is happening it would do us good to hearken to verse 9, Praise Him. Praise Him in the good for He is good. Praise Him in the bad, for He is good. Praise Him during the virus that hovers over the land, for He is good. Praise Him, for you are in His presence.
“Why should the mighty make their boast
And heavenly grace despise?
In their own arm they put their trust
And fill their mouth with lies.”
–C.D. Barlow