David, condemning the spitefulness of Doeg, prophesieth his destruction. The righteous shall rejoice at it. David, upon his confidence in God's mercy, giveth thanks.
To the chief musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.
Title. דוד לדוד׃אּבא משׂכיל למנצח lamnatseach maskill ledavid.—ba david. David is come— David came. This Psalm consists of three parts; the first is a description of Doeg's character. He was one who gloried in his villainy, was fruitful in inventions to ruin others, of a smooth tongue, but of an extremely mischievous one; who delighted in malicious charges, supported them by lies, and took pleasure in acts of wickedness and cruelty. The share he had in the murder of the priests is a full proof of the truth of this character. The second part foretels the utter ruin of this man, his fortune and family, and the triumph of good men, when they saw him made an example of divine justice. In the third part, the Psalmist assures himself of protection, and future prosperity from God; and that his example in praising God, and patiently waiting for his salvation, would be a pleasing encouragement to all the saints. Chandler.
Psalms 52:1. O mighty man— It seems probable, that Doeg, after he had massacred the priests, boasted of his loyalty to Saul in having prevented the treasonable schemes which he artfully insinuated had been concerted by David and the priests; and that he had been liberally rewarded by Saul upon account of it. Now the Psalm begins by expressing a kind of contempt of Doeg. "O mighty man! Saul's chief herdsman!—Man of wondrous prowess! thus to destroy a set of defenceless and innocent people:—boast no more; thy cruelty shall be amply repaid. As for me, I am out of the reach of thy malice. That goodness of God, which thou reproachest me for trusting in, is my sure protection, and will follow me day by day." Mr. Schultens remarks, that גבור gibbor, signifies in Arabic, a proud, impious man, a sense which well suits the place before us. Dr. Delaney is of opinion, that not Doeg only, but Saul also, is glanced at in this verse, which he renders thus, Why boastest thou thyself, O man of power, that thou canst do mischief? Whereas the goodness of God is from day to day, A king, says he, is the representative of God upon earth; and his duty, to imitate the divine goodness, and to protect and to bless. A tyrant reverses this glorious resemblance; and employs all that power to the purposes of mischief, which was only bestowed for those of beneficence.