Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
Title. - When Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul ... David is some to ... Ahimelech. David had just heard that Saul, on Doeg's information, caused 85 priests to be killed. It was virtually a 'boast' (Psalms 52:1) and threat of Saul that similar would be the fate of all who should aid David. To this David replies, Psalms 52:1, "Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man?" Saul (not Doeg) represents the ideal wicked one, against whom this psalm is directed. Doeg told the fact, upon Saul's solemn charge to his servants. It was Saul who put the "lying" (Psalms 52:3-4) construction of high treason on it against David and the innocent priests (1 Samuel 22:9-10; 1 Samuel 22:17; 1 Samuel 22:22). The Hebrew, gibowr (H1368), 'mighty man,' or 'hero,' is frequently applied by David to Saul (2 Samuel 1:19); a term inapplicable to the herdsman Doeg. Saul it was who "trusted in the abundance of his riches" (Psalms 52:7) as means against David (1 Samuel 22:7-9). The epithet, "the Edomite" reminds us of Edom, the representative of the world's enmity to God's people.
Maschil - Instruction. The case of David and Saul illustrates the eternal principle that the triumph of might with wrong is short: cf. Psalms 52:6-7; Psalms 52:9. Saul and his sons were 'rooted out of the land of the living,' a type of the doom of the last Antichrist.
Psalms 52:1-9.-The theme: the mighty man's wickedness (Psalms 52:1-2); his boasting is vain, seeing that God, in goodness to His people, will destroy the destroyer (Psalms 52:4-5), to the edification of the righteous (Psalms 52:6-7); but David, trusting in the Lord, and therefore flourishing, shall praise Him forever (Psalms 52:8-9).
Boastest ... thyself in mischief - the bane.
The goodness ( checed (H2617 ); benignity) of God - the antidote. The hero-like energy of the "mighty The goodness ( checed (H2617 ); benignity) of God - the antidote. The hero-like energy of the "mighty man" (cf. Psalms 52:7, "strengthened himself in his wickedness") cannot stand for a moment before the mighty God ( 'Eel (H410), Psalms 52:5).
Continually - literally, the whole day.