Psalm 52

We are doing a study on Wednesday nights in the book of Psalm. I love the book of Psalm and admire the person that wrote it, King David. Yes, he made mistakes in his life and I think that is why I admire him. I am so blessed to have Bro. Steve to teach and enlighten certain areas of the Bible. I took lots of notes from this teaching and can't wait to share with you. I wanted to bring this lesson to you because I felt that someone could go away feeling a sense of hope and satisfaction.

To set the scene, King Saul was very jealous of David and wanted him destroyed because he felt a threat of his kingdom being taken from him. Ahimelech was the chief high priest to King Saul. David came into Ahimelech's presence. Ahimelech became very nervous because of King Saul and his dislike for David. Ahimelech just wanted David to go away because he didn't want Saul to be upset with him. David asked for food, but they didn't have any except for the bread that was offered to God. By law this was a big no, no in the time. David and his men were hungry, so they took the bread. Then, David asked for weapons. Ahimelech showed David the only weapon that they had in their possession was the sword of Goliath. David took it. While all of this was going down, no one noticed Doeg an Edomite watching. Bro. Steve said that in the time Edomites and Israelites didn't get along at all. Doeg wanted to be in the king's good grace, so he went to King Saul and told him what conspired and added a little information that wasn't true. Doeg didn't stop at pointing the finger at Ahimelech helping David, but also told Saul that all of the leaders were involved. This absolutely wasn't true. Does this sound familiar? Do you know of one person, group, or empire that go out of their way to cause trouble or wickedness? With the blessing of the king, Doeg went to Ahimelech and not only killed him, but all the leaders and their families and livestock. When the news got back to David, how do you think he felt? If you said angry or mad. You are right. He became enraged with what just happened and it caused him to write Psalm 52.

Is it okay to be angry if something awful happened to you or someone else that you love? According to God's word, yes. "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity" Ephesians 4:26-27. It's okay to be angry, but don't hold grudges. Anger should be balanced by God's justice. So what does this mean? I'll come back to this later. 

Worse yet, Doeg boasted about the slaughtering of innocent people. "Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness (faithfulness) of God endures all day long" Psalm 52:1. "Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. (2) You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking what is right. Selah (means take a moment and think about it) (3). You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue (4).

What do we do? Do we sit back and do nothing or do we do something about it? Our human nature wants to do something about it. Doesn't it? Why should he (Doeg) get away with this? Murder! It isn't fair for the righteous to have to walk the straight and narrow road, while the unrighteous does whatever they want. Naturally, we want to avenge those that have been done wrong. Whether it was you personally or someone else that you know. What does God say? He says for us to be patient. "But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up, and tear you away from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah (5). And the righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, (6) 'Behold the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and was strong in his evil desire.'" (7). It would be so hard to sit back and wait on God's justice to be delivered to the unrighteous. David trusts God's lovingkindness forever and so should you. Don't take matters into your own hands because your reaction to your anger will swallow you up and you will NEVER be satisfied and at what cost to you. You could loose so much more than what you had before you became angered at a situation that happened to you. "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,' says the Lord." Romans 12:19. "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;" Psalm 37:7a.

What can you do then, if you are not to avenge the wrong doing? God says, be thankful. Remain focused in the Lord's lovingkindness. "But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. (8) I will give Thee thanks forever, because Thou hast done it, and I will wait on Thy name, for it is good, in the presence of Thy godly ones. (9)" "Wait for the Lord, and keep His way, and He will exalt you . . . when the wicked are cut off, you will see it." Psalm 37:34. ". . . thanks be to God, who give us the victory through our Lord . . ." 1 Corinthians 15:57. In 2 Timothy 4:14 Paul wrote "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:" Don't you know Alexander had countless days to his demise.

Bro. Steve added in conclusion, "In fact, in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

I hope this message brings to you a sense of understanding of God's word and what you need to do. A sense of hope and strengthening of your faith in Him. Sometimes, we put our faith and trust in other things and people and not necessarily in God. Instead, put your loving faithfulness and patience in God and his vengeance or justice will be met.