Thoughts for the Day

* Painting of Ahimelech giving David Goliath's sword

Judgement on the Deceitful. To the leader. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, ‘David has come to the house of Ahimelech.’

Why do you boast, O mighty one,
of mischief done against the godly?
All day long you are plotting destruction.
Your tongue is like a sharp razor,
you worker of treachery.
You love evil more than good,
and lying more than speaking the truth.Selah
You love all words that devour,
O deceitful tongue.

But God will break you down for ever;
he will snatch and tear you from your tent;
he will uproot you from the land of the living.Selah
The righteous will see, and fear,
and will laugh at the evildoer, saying,
‘See the one who would not take
refuge in God,
but trusted in abundant riches,
and sought refuge in wealth!’

But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
for ever and ever.
I will thank you for ever,
because of what you have done.
In the presence of the faithful
I will proclaim your name, for it is good.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

My olive tree was not thriving! It stands at the front of the house in a huge pot, and I suspected it wasn't getting any rain. I'd been busy and not noticed. Time to feed it and check it received some water. The leaves still continued to drop, but by autumn enough remained and new ones were growing. The olive tree had turned a corner! I was reminded of David's comment above, that we are like olive trees, nurtured by God.

Psalm 52 links to another psalm that we looked at recently (Psalm 34) when David was fleeing from King Saul and was helped by Ahimelech the priest who gave him bread from the altar. But when Doeg the Edomite herdsman discovers this he reports back to King Saul, and is ordered by the King to kill the priest and his whole community (1 Samuel 22.9-23).

Doeg is a man who carves out a place at the court of the King through intrigue and violence. However David reflects that his career will be short lived, for God will surely seek vengeance for the murder of his people. David's initial words are harsh. He says to Doeg "God will break you down for ever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living." This probably reflects his first shock at the news of the killing of God's priest and the massacre of his people. He concludes that this is what happens to all who trust in their wealth and not in God. He recognises that he is flourishing like a beautiful green olive tree under God's care and protection, and he will therefore continue to praise and thank God for His goodness.

↠ Consider whether you are flourishing. Do you thank and praise God for His care?

Heavenly Father,
sometimes we are quick to complain
when things are not going well,
or when others prosper but we suffer.
Help us to be realistic and see that
we also have much for which to be grateful,
and that wealth is fleeting.
May we be grateful for the love of family
and friends,
and especially for Your love for us.
Amen.