Read Psalm
52-55 & Acts
27:26-44
To discover:
As you read note how the
perspective of final judgement should impact life now.
To ponder:
“Edom ”
is a word play on Adam. The Old Testament concern with the destruction of
Edomites (Num 24v18) therefore alludes to God’s judgement of all fallen
humanity. This may be why the title of Psalm 52 notes it is in response to
“Doeg the Edomite” betraying David. It means the psalm refers to all who do
evil.
It begins asking why the man boasts
of his evil when he is actually in disgrace before God. As so often, his evil
is seen in his plotting and deceiving (52v1-4). Yet David is confident God will
snatch him away from life and bring him to “everlasting ruin” – a hint of hell
(52v5). In saying the “righteous” will laugh then (52v6), David is not
trivialising the seriousness of judgement, but noting how ridiculous wicked
living is when one considers this (see Ps 2v4). The one who trusted his wealth
and benefited from destroying others will be forever destroyed, whereas the
righteous will forever flourish in God’s presence, trusting in his love
(52v6-8). So David declares that he will praise God before his “saints”
forever, and hope in his goodness (52v9). When faced by evil, the psalm brings
a dose of realism as to the ultimate fate of the wicked and righteous, drawing
us therefore to keep trusting and hoping in God.
Psalm 53 is almost identical to
Psalm 14 (see notes there), but for verse 5. As with a song one might compose
today, it seems David has reworked a previous psalm for a new context. 53v5
suggests God’s people needn’t have feared the evildoers, as God enabled them to
be victorious and so put them to shame. The psalm therefore looks to the day
when believers will somehow execute justice on their oppressors at the final
judgement (1 Cor 6v2, Rev 2v26-27), affirming that in the light of it, we need
not fear man (Matt 10v28).
Such deliverance is the theme of
Psalm 54. David prays for God’s salvation and vindication that God is for him,
in the face of ruthless men who, like the fool in Psalm 53v1, have no regard
for God (54v1-3). Affirming God is his help, David prays that evil will come on
those who slander him and destroy them. And in confidence he then promises to
sacrifice a freewill offering and praise God for his goodness in delivering him
from all his troubles and foes (54v4-7). Once more we must remember such
prayers for judgement reflect a right provocation at the treatment of God’s
anointed king, and are therefore right in their concern for justice. What the
New Testament adds is a reminder to also pray for repentance in such folk that might
instead lead to blessing (Lk 6v28).
Psalm 55 is another prayer in the
face of enemies, who insult David, hurt him, and cause the psychological trauma
of him being distraught in contemplating the terror that may await him (55v1-5).
He is particularly distressed that one of these enemies was his closest friend
with whom he went to worship at the temple (55v13-14, 22). It’s an astonishing
pattern fulfilled by Christ’s betrayal by Judas and then fear of what was to
come when in Gethsemane .
David acknowledges that if he had
wings like a dove he would fly away to a place of safety from the storm
(55v6-8). But rather than trying to do so, he prays, provoked at the impact the
wicked are having on his city, Jerusalem .
He pictures them as prowling day and night like preying animals, bringing violence,
strife, hatred, abuse, threats and lies. So he asks God to confound their plans
and cause their death, whilst stating how he is particularly moved to oppose
what is happening because one of those involved was his friend (55v9-15). He
then affirms that in terms of his future, he is confident of salvation.
Reflecting the three times many Jews would pray (see Dan 6v10), he states how
he cries out evening, morning and noon ,
and knows God hears his voice. So, just as has been God’s practice in the past,
he will “ransom” David unharmed and afflict his enemies, who do not fear God
(55v16-19). Yet, unable to forget his betrayal, David goes on to speak of how
his friend “violated” his covenant – presumably the agreement of friendship
itself, or some more formal alliance. Indeed, he spoke soothing words whilst
war was in his heart (55v20-21). The psalm ends with David calling the
congregation to cast their own cares on God, knowing he will never let them, if
righteous, fall, but will bring death (the “pit of corruption”) to the wicked
(56v22-23). In the light of that perspective, his conclusion that he chooses to
trust in God moves us to also. Whatever we face in this life, on the last day we
can be sure of justice for the wicked and life for the righteous.
Thinking
further:
None
today.
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