Steadfast Love Endures Evil Boasting in Psalm 52

“Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.” Psalm 52:1

In this psalm, David is confronting Doeg, the Edomite, who is boasting of evil. It’s almost as if David is saying he’s no match for the enduring steadfast love of God. David accuses Doeg of plotting destruction by deceit. He claims Doeg loves evil more than good, lying more than speaking truth. Doeg epitomizes James 3:8: “…no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

Steadfast love overwhelms evil boasting.

“But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living.” Psalm 52:5

David delivers a message to Doeg. Boasting of evil without being able to back it up will have dire consequences. Doeg will be broken down, snatched, and torn from his tent. He will be uprooted and removed from the land of the living.

The righteous of the land will watch the Lord fight for them and stand in awe. They will see the man who refused the refuge; they will rest in the safety of the steadfast love of God. Doeg trusted his riches, his abundance. The righteous find their place in the steadfast love offered by God.

“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.” Psalm 52:8

God’s people are compared to a green olive tree. It is beloved and fruitful. A green olive tree is resilient and can endure harsh conditions. God’s people are uniquely conditioned, because of hope, to endure difficult times. Even loss born of brokenness. Pain is as real as a harsh climate. But God’s people are recipients of enduring steadfast love.

I remember speaking at my church as I was turning the corner in my unwanted journey. I was preaching out of Psalm 89:33-35, and I conveyed that I was so encouraged that God tells his people he will not remove his steadfast love. He will not be false to his faithfulness. He will not violate his covenant, nor will he alter his word. He swears by his holiness and will not lie. I summarized by saying, “If your circumstances are telling you that he has removed his steadfast love from you, your circumstances are lying to you.”

Trust in his steadfast love. Forever and ever.

Doeg boasted of evil; we trust in God’s love. In response, we “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). And this context calls for deep gratitude. God has accomplished for us what we could not. Doeg’s evil boasting does not prevail over the steadfast love of our God.

Therefore, we wait in trust for his good name with gratitude on our lips.