Judging Deceit

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Assurances and Joy for the Faithful

Psalm 52  The Message

A David Psalm, When Doeg the Edomite Reported to Saul, “David’s at Ahimelech’s House”

52 ^1-4 Why do you brag of evil, “Big Man”?
    God’s mercy carries the day.
You scheme catastrophe;
    your tongue cuts razor-sharp,
    artisan in lies.
You love evil more than good,
    you call black white.
You love malicious gossip,
    you foul-mouth.

⁵ God will tear you limb from limb,
    sweep you up and throw you out,
Pull you up by the roots
    from the land of life.

^6-7 Good people will watch and
    worship. They’ll laugh in relief:
“Big Man bet on the wrong horse,
    trusted in big money,
    made his living from catastrophe.”

⁸ And I’m an olive tree,
    growing green in God’s house.
I trusted in the generous mercy
    of God then and now.

⁹ I thank you always
    that you went into action.
And I’ll stay right here,
    your good name my hope,
    in company with your faithful friends.

For Reflection

We know all to well those who love evil more than good.  Yet many who act as evil lovers would not admit to it because they really do not understand that their common place ways are Godless.  They confuse compliance with their cultural standards with the selflessness that God expects from God's people.  They identify themselves as good people, but because they are not motivated by the intentions of God's counter culture, they contribute to the chaos of humanity.

Are you the fruit of God's tree?  Can you recognize the difference between God's intention for human compassion and justice and the common ethics of our culture?

Pray

Pray so that you will be closer to your God.  Pray so that God's word to you may be revealed.  Pray to strengthen your faith. Pray so that you might be more in tune with God's will. Pray so that you will be able to differentiate common practice from the way of Christ.