I just got back from helping to move sheep on my daughter and son-in-law’s property. And then tonight, after that encounter with the sheep, who are not always dumb, but let’s be honest, they do a lot of dumb things, I decided to read one of David’s Psalms that has nothing to do with sheep. Psalm 52. Neither does this post.
We have all used words at different points in our lives, not to heal but to inflict pain. Usually, we were angry and instantly regretted it. If we responded with repentance, we had the opportunity to undo or at least begin to make an attempt at reconstruction after the damage our words had done. But if repentance and confession were delayed, inevitably, our relations with the object of our harsh words were compromised or destroyed. But other effects will also appear over time. All of this is proof that we need a Savior.
If we continue the pattern:
-
1) hurt with words,
-
2) feel guilty,
-
3) fail to confess,
-
4) fail to repent,
-
5) harden our conscience,
-
6) repeat, rather than repent.
The consequences are predictable:
-
1) broken relationships
-
2) a growing weight of guilt
-
3) a hardening of our hearts
-
4) a reputation for arrogance and narcissism
-
5) a growing distance between God and us
In Psalm 52, we have a situation where one of David’s enemies, “Doeg the Edomite,” has used his words to injure and betray David. His words were lies. His words were filled with deceit and treachery. And they resulted in 85 priests being murdered (1 Samuel 22). And there is no record that Doeg ever repented. The first verse is sarcastic and sets the trajectory for all that follows. “The mighty man” of verse 1 is the “worker of deceit” in verse 2, the “deceitful tongue” of verse 4, and “the man who would not make God his refuge” in verse 7. As such, he is neither mighty nor does he have anything to boast about. Think about that list.
- A pompous, opportunistic poser (mighty man)
- A planner of deceit (worker of deceit)
- A talker filled with deceit (deceitful tongue)
- A man who has no need for God. (does not make God his refuge)
–is working against you, and he has the ear of the most powerful man in the kingdom, who also happens to have a vendetta against you. Oh, and he (Saul) happens to be a madman intoxicated with a jealous rage about your popularity.
But in verse 9, David begins to describe himself in this situation.
“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of the God
forever and ever.
I will thank you forever,
because you have done it.
I will wait for your name,
for it is good,
in the presence of the godly.’
“The green olive tree” image is a picture of health. Despite his situation, David feels secure, unafraid, and focused.
Can a relationship with God do that?
You bet it can. Look at the three things that David says are the practices of his heart.
-
I trust (vs. 8)
-
I will thank (vs. 9)
-
I will wait for your name (vs. 9)
In the turmoil, betrayals, and deceitful lips of your situation, God is still filled with steadfast love for you, too. David moves from the knowledge of that to expressing a heart of gratitude to God for His goodness. Finally, he says he will wait for God’s goodness to be revealed.
There is no situation in life where a memory of God’s faithful love cannot bring peace to a reeling heart.
Train your heart to remember who God is and what He has promised.
Just like David did.
