But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. Psalm 52:8 KJV
This is a Psalm of David written in nine versus. The first seven are about Doeg, a wicked servant of Saul the king. David was fleeing Saul because the king wanted to kill him. As he fled, he went to see Ahimelech, a priest who lived in the town of Nob. David did not inform the priest that he was fleeing from Saul but rather said he was on a mission for the king. He received bread from Ahimelech and was given the sword taken from the giant Goliath.
Doeg had been there when David came to the priest and later informed Saul of what he had witnessed. Doeg was one of Saul’s greatest strongmen and his best shepherd. He told Saul that Ahimelech had helped David flee and Saul ordered that the priests be asked to come to him.
The Priest Is Accused of Rebellion
When Ahimelech and his family of priests arrived, Saul accused the priest of helping David rebel against him. Ahimelech denied knowing anything about any rebellion, adding that David was Saul’s most loyal servant. Not showing the mercy of God, Saul ordered his bodyguards to kill the priests, but they would not attack the priests of the Lord.
Then, Saul turned to Doeg and ordered him to kill them. Doeg killed eighty-five priests and then went to Nob where the priests lived. There, without the mercy of God, he killed every man, woman and child. He even killed the livestock. Only Ahimelech’s son Abiathar escaped. He ran to David and related the story to him.
In Psalm 52, David scorns Doeg for loving evil rather than good. He says God will surely pluck him from his tent. David writes that Doeg did not make God his stronghold but trusted great wealth and grew strong by destroying other people.
Then, David describes himself as, “like a green olive tree in the house of God,” adding, “I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. WEB” David, seeing himself as strong and thriving in the house of God, contrasts himself to this wicked man Doeg. Knowing that Saul and evil men like this were after him, David took refuge in his relationship with God the Father while seeking earthly shelter from his own king.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for being my stronghold. I take refuge in you from the evil one. Lend me your strength as I live in victory through Jesus’ Christ. – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: He Hears Us
