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This is one of the rare Psalms in which we have a direct historical setting mentioned, please notice the inscription in the heading:
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”
This Psalm records a very bitter moment in the life of David. You may remember David was on the run from king Saul and finds some respite with his dear friend Ahimelech, priest of Nod. David lied and said Saul sent him on a secret errand. Ahimelech provided David with the consecrated bread from the table of shewbread and because David had no weapon, Ahimelech gave David the sword of Goliath as it was the only weapon the chief priest had available.
Now, in the middle of the narrative we find a solemn note in verse 7— “Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s head shepherd” (1 Sam. 21:7).
In I Samuel 22, we find king Saul assembling his officials and military guard together. Saul was feeling sorry for himself because he heard David was gathering supporters in Judah. Saul’s own son Jonathan had made a covenant with David and Saul probably felt betrayed because of that too.
But, we are then told that Saul’s herdsman Doeg the Edomite was present as well. And that Doeg sought opportunity to gain favor with Saul by telling the king; “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine” (1 Sam. 22:9–10).
This revelation infuriated Saul and so Saul sent for Ahimelech and accused him of conspiracy. Ahimelech claimed no one in the kingdom was as loyal to Saul as David. Also, Ahimelech said he had no idea there was a problem between David and Saul. When pressed by Saul, Ahimelech told the truth.
Saul ordered Ahimelech to be killed along with his entire family in I Samuel 22:16. But when Saul ordered his guards to kill the priests they refused out of respect to the Lord and His servants.
When Saul’s guard would not kill the priests, Saul ordered the wicked Doeg to do the deed and he did; “So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep” (vv. 18–19).
David felt personally responsible for what happened as he confessed his own part in the tragedy; “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your father’s whole family” (I Samuel 22:22).
This tragic story is only mentioned 2 places in Scripture. I Samuel and Psalm 52.
I Samuel is David’s confession concerning his responsibility for the death of the priests. Psalm 52 is David’s evaluation of Doeg.
Let us come to understand David’s reflections upon God’s judgment against the evil Doeg so that we may rejoice in God’s perfect justice!
Sometimes we encounter people who have given themselves over to do evil against their fellow human being so completely we cannot help but cry out to God for justice against them!
- A Portrait of Evil Doeg in Verses 1-4—We find a 3-fold description of the Character of the Evil Doeg:
- He was proud in verse 1
- He loved evil in verse 3
- He used words as weapons in verse 4
- The Perfect Justice of God in Verses 5-7—Sometimes in our lives, we may think evil people get away with their atrocious acts because it seems as if God’s justice is not present. But this portion of the Psalm contains 2 ideas:
- What God will do to Doeg in Judgment in Verse 5—Gods judgement against this evil man is described by 4 verbs:
- Break down
- Snatch up
- Tear away
- Uproot
- What God’s people will do when they witness God’s judgment in Verses 6-7
- The passage says God’s people will “see” and “fear” in verse 6. This means we will stand in awe of God’s mighty justice. Also, they will “laugh”.
- This does not mean they will have a selfish delight in Doeg’s destruction. But rather God’s people will be completely satisfied with the rightness of God when He intervenes to give justice to those who do great harm to others.
- What God will do to Doeg in Judgment in Verse 5—Gods judgement against this evil man is described by 4 verbs:
- A Polar Opposite in David in Verses 8-9
- Beware of self-righteousness
- The contrast between David the olive tree and Doeg. — “Olive trees in the groves around the Mediterranean Sea are centuries old, with some dated up to 3500 years.”
- Conclusion: First, he praises God (“I will praise you forever for what you have done,” v. 8). Second, he trusts God for the future (“I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever” and “in your name I will hope, for your name is good,” vv. 8–9). Third, he bears witness of these truths before others (“I will praise you in the presence of your saints,” v. 9).
