“A study of contrasts”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Monday, July 24, 2023
Psalm 52 (Forward, p. 87) CEV p. 586
Today’s psalm, sad to say, was occasioned by one of the most horrible and heart-rending episodes in the future King David’s life. He had appealed to an innocent man, Ahimelech, for help during a desperate time and the man and his entire family and community had suffered a terrible reprisal for this unknowing act of charity. And the key person behind this atrocity was one Edomite by the name of Doeg. It was he ‘who spilled the beans’, who slandered Ahimelech.
However, let us go back a moment, to tell the rest of the story, to paint in greater detail something of the background of what took place. King Saul is feeling particularly alone and beleaguered. He is quite sure that someone from his household or staff is conspiring against him, and in one sense, this is true, for his son Jonathan has in fact made a pact of friendship with David. But, Saul goes far beyond this simple fact, this simple truth, and suggests two ridiculous things, one that some among the present company hanging back on disclosing every, thinking instead, that David will reward them for their loyalty, and two that David is actively plotting against him—lying in wait—when the exact opposite soon becomes the norm.
It is during this bout of personal insecurity and paranoia that Doeg the Edomite speaks up. (Hitherto, he has been a relative non-entity, simply the chief of Saul’s herdsmen.) But here is his chance for glory, his chance to curry favour with Saul, to get in his good graces. He pipes up and tells Saul that he had seen David conferring with Ahimelech. Furthermore, he alleges, not only that this priest had provided food and weaponry to David—both of which were true—but also that he had ‘enquired’ of the Lord, that is, asked God for guidance on his behalf. Here he is slandering the good priest, for he simply could not know what David and the priest said to each other in private. So, here he is surmising what went on between them when they were alone together—and that, truth be told, is enough for Saul. Doeg is believed and earns Saul’s good graces and approval. Ahimelech is slandered simply because it suited Doeg and is hitherto brought in for questioning and a ‘show trial’ where the verdict has already been decided.
When Saul therefore orders the death of Ahimelech and his fellow priests for treason, Saul’s servants refuse to lift a hand against them—and no wonder, because they probably were reluctant to carry out such a dastardly deed, against priests no less! But Doeg has no such reluctance. When Saul turned to him and him to carry it out, Doeg not only killed the priests but also the entire city, men, women and children, and even their livestock. One has to wonder whether he had some ‘pre-existing hate’ against the city that would explain such an act. Or, perhaps it was simply the kind of pent up frenzy that sometimes ‘takes over’ men of war when they are frustrated in attaining their battle objectives. Anyway, it was horrific.
Of this massacre, only one man survived, one man escaped, one of the sons of Ahimelech named Abiathar. Here is where today’s psalm comes into play. In today’s psalm, David praises, extols, the protection that comes from Almighty God and declares how he can feel confident in God’s loyalty, care and trustworthiness--much in contrast to the treachery, lies and evil deeds of certain people. And, with Abiathar, David pledges the same loyalty and protection to him that he has hitherto known from God (see 1 Samuel 22:20-23). And indeed, with the good graces and favour that we have all received so abundantly from God, should we not also share these with those around us as well. “As we have received, so we should give to others.” Amen.
Forward notes: “I will give you thanks for what you have done and declare the goodness of your Name in the presence of the godly” (verse 9).
“God is always good, but sometimes we do not understand the timing. God’s time is not our time, but if we persevere, we will see God’s love and loyalty toward us.
“I have a friend whom I admire for her kindness and faithfulness. She was the first one who spoke to me about God and invited me to her church when we were young girls. I told her I didn’t like going, but she never stopped inviting me.
“She had a difficult life. When her parents divorced, she stayed with her father and ended up estranged from her mother and siblings. Although her dad was a good man, it is hard for a young girl to lose her mother.
“As a young woman, she was unlucky with her relationships: she was cheated on. She gave up on love, but she never distanced herself from God. Then in the moment she least expected it, a very special man came into her life and made her happy.”
Moving Forward: “Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Which of the things listed in that passage apply today to your life?”